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Benign Partial Epilepsy in Infancy: Myth or Reality?
Author(s) -
Kaleyias Joseph,
Khurana Divya S.,
Valencia Ignacio,
Legido Agustin,
Kothare Sanjeev V.
Publication year - 2006
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/j.1528-1167.2006.00520.x
Subject(s) - ictal , epilepsy , pediatrics , pallor , apnea , electroencephalography , medicine , psychology , anesthesia , psychiatry
Summary: Purpose: Benign partial epilepsy in infancy (BPEI) was first described by Watanabe in 1987. The aim of this study is to describe a series of infants from the United States to characterize this entity further. Methods: Among patients with the diagnosis of epilepsy followed up at our institution between 2002 and 2004, those satisfying the criteria for BPEI were included in a retrospective study. Results: Sixteen (10.2%) of 150 patients with new onset of epilepsy younger than 2 years were identified. The mean age at seizure onset was 8 months. Four (25%) infants had a family history of benign seizures. All infants were neurologically and developmentally normal at the onset of seizures. The seizures occurred in clusters in 75% of patients, predominantly in wakefulness. The initial manifestation was behavioral arrest with staring (69%) and apnea with cyanosis or pallor (37.5%). These symptoms were followed by deviation of eyes or head or both (56%), mild clonic movements (31%), or increased limb tone (35%). Secondary generalization was noticed in 37.5% of patients. All infants had normal interictal EEGs and brain MRIs. Ictal EEGs disclosed electrographic seizures in 50% of patients (temporal origin in 62% and central in 38%). Fifteen (94%) patients were treated with AEDs with good response. The mean duration of treatment was 12.4 months. The final developmental assessment of all patients was normal. Conclusions: We believe that BPEI exists as a unique entity and should be included in the differential diagnosis of epilepsies in infancy with partial origin.