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Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: Correlating spike frequency and neuropsychology
Author(s) -
Tacke Moritz,
Rupp Nina,
Gerstl Lucia,
Heinen Florian,
Vill Katharina,
Bonfert Michaela,
Neubauer Bernd Axel,
Bast Thomas,
Borggraefe Ingo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/ane.13015
Subject(s) - ictal , audiology , neurocognitive , neuropsychology , psychology , population , epilepsy , neuropsychological test , electroencephalography , cognition , medicine , psychiatry , environmental health
Objectives Neuropsychological sequelae are a feature of benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes ( BECTS ) in children. A correlation between the frequency of interictal EEG discharges and the cognitive as well as behavioral profile of the patients has been suspected but not proven. Materials and methods Children with BECTS that had not yet been treated were included into a randomized controlled trial. In the initial visit, EEG s were recorded. The frequency of interictal discharges was quantified. Correlations between the discharge frequency and the performance in a neuropsychological test battery were examined. Results The cognitive test results were within or slightly above normal range (Culture‐free intelligence test: 99.4%‐confidence interval [ CI ]: [50.3, 59.9], test standardized to a population mean of 50). Parent‐reported behavioral abnormalities were statistically significantly increased ( CBCL total score CI : [51.9, 61.9], population mean as above). Correlations between the frequency of interictal epileptic discharges and the test results could not be identified (lowest encountered P ‐value: 0.034, not significant after correction for multiple testing). Conclusion The data do not support the hypothesis that the frequency of the interictal EEG discharges influences the neurocognitive performance or behavioral parameters of children with BECTS .