The Epilepsies of Rett Syndrome in Indonesia

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to evaluate various types of sei- zures, EEG findings, and last evolution of epileptic seizures found in children with Rett Syndrome (RTT). Methods A case series of ten female subjects from Sardjito Hos- pital, Yogyakarta; Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta; and Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung from February 2001-April 2004. Diagnosis of RTT was established using necessary and support- ive criteria by the RTT Diagnostic Criteria Work Group and epi- lepsy was diagnosed according to clinical and EEG findings. Results The age during initial diagnosis of RTT ranged from 2 years 6 months - 10 years 2 months (average: 4 years 6 months). The diagnosis of epilepsy, on the other hand, was established from 2 years - 5 years 10 months (average: 3 years 8 months). All subjects (10/10) had abnormal EEG results. Eight out of ten had epileptiform discharge; the remaining had slowing background activity. The average age of initial seizure onset was 18 months. Five were diagnosed as epileptic subjects. Febrile convulsions were the most common initial seizure. General tonic clonic sei- zure was major type of seizure which manifested in 2 subjects. Conclusion All EEG results showed abnormality, although sei- zure did not appear. Five out of ten subjects experienced epi- lepsy

Keywords

• Rett Syndrome
• EEG
• epilepsy