Epilepsy and autism: The authors’ study data

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate electroclinical features in patients with epilepsy and autism and to determine the efficiency of antiepileptic therapy. A group of 113 patients aged 8 months to 10 years with autistic disorders was followed up. All the patients were divided into 6 groups, 3 of which consisted of those with the so-called epiautism. Epileptiform activity on awakening was found in 113 (63%) patients, of them 45% had benign epileptiform discharges of childhood (BEDCs) recorded as epileptiform activity also during sleep in all the patients with epiautism. The epiactivity index substantially increased in 94% of the patients during sleep as compared on awakening. Sleep EEG recording in a total of 113 patients revealed epileptiform activity in 71%, of them BEDCs were recorded in 73%, which was 26% greater than that on awakening. There was a rise in the presentation of multiregional activity during sleep. Epileptiform activity was more common in the central and temporal leads. Valproate used alone and in combination with other drugs was a major component of therapy in the children followed up. Levetiracetam, etosuximide, and other antiepileptic medications were also used. After therapy optimization, the majority of patients showed reduced activity on EEG; however, abnormalities remained in the higher psychic sphere.

Keywords

• epilepsy
• autism
• epileptiform activity
• antiepileptic therapy