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Epilepsy in children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Maia César Quadros,
Lima William Gustavo,
Nizer Waleska Stephanie da Cruz,
Ferreira Jaqueline Maria Siqueira
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/epi.16890
Subject(s) - meta analysis , epilepsy , medicine , cochrane library , pediatrics , confidence interval , medline , observational study , systematic review , incidence (geometry) , psychiatry , physics , optics , political science , law
Abstract Objectives To estimate the overall frequency of epilepsy in children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and describe the profile of seizures and the response rate to anti‐epileptic treatment in this group of patients. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted following the Cochrane Handbook and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and LILACS were searched until June 23, 2020. Observational studies that evaluated the frequency of epilepsy in children diagnosed with CZS according to international criteria were included in the study. Results Fourteen studies evaluating 903 patients diagnosed with CZS were pooled in a meta‐analysis. All studies were conducted in Brazil, with reports published between 2016 and 2020, and included children diagnosed with CSZ from 0 to 40 months of age. The overall rate of epilepsy in children diagnosed with CZS was estimated at 60% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51‐0.68). The studies included in this review show that the frequency of epilepsy in patients with CSZ varies with age, with higher rates in older children. Epileptic spasms was the primary type of seizure observed in this group, followed by focal and generalized crisis. The response rate to anti‐epileptic drugs was considerably low, ranging from 20% of seizure control in the first year and 30% in the second year. Significance Children with CZS presented a high cumulative incidence of epilepsy episodes with increased severity and a low response to anti‐epileptic therapy, which is associated with the extensive damage caused by the Zika virus on the cortical structures of patients.