Electroclinical and Demographic Evaluation of Cases with Selflimited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to contribute to our understanding of unknown aspects of this syndrome by evaluating the characteristics of patients with rolandic epilepsy (RE), who applied to our hospital. Methods: The cases diagnosed with 'self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS)', who applied to the Pediatric Neurology Department of Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine between July 2016, and July 2020, were evaluated clinically, electroencephalographically, and psychometrically retrospectively. Results: Ninety-two cases diagnosed with RE were included in the study. The age of seizure onset was mostly observed between the ages of 5-10, with a frequency of 51.1%. Twenty-nine (31.5%) of these cases were followed up by the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry department due to psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety, anxiety disorder, depression, and attention deficit. After the evaluation of the patients' first seizure type, it was identified that the seizures of the "generalized tonic-clonic" type were the most common (43.5%). The second most common type of seizure was "focal orofacial motor seizures" (21.8%). Finally, focal clonic seizures took third place (12%). Considering the success rates of the first-line drugs, it was seen that levetiracetam was 86% effective, valproic acid 79.3%, carbamazepine 100%, and oxcarbazepine 100%. Conclusion: Our study suggested considering the necessity of further evaluation of SeLECTS even in patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The presence of psychiatric comorbidities reveals the necessity and importance of assessing these cases, especially in terms of anxiety, anxiety disorder, depression, and attention problems.

Keywords

• rolandic epilepsy
• self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes
• electroencephalography
• centrotemporal spike wave discharge
• anti-seizure medication