Clinical Pediatrics: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2572-0775
ISSN: 2572-0775
Nelica Ivanovic Radovic*, Goran Banjac and Oleg Cmiljanic
Clinical Center of Montenegro, Montenegro
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Clin Pediatr
Background: Electrical Status Epilepticus during Slow-wave sleep (ESES) is a rare, age-related, self-limited epilepsy syndrome with sleep-induced epileptic discharges manifested as epilepsy with different seizure types and typical Electro-Encephalo- Graphic (EEG) findings of continuous epileptic activity occupying ≥ 85% of nonrapid eye movement sleep. Despite there is little evidence to guide treatment, steroid therapy and benzodiazepines are most commonly used, but also intravenous gamma-globulin, the ketogenic diet and surgical therapy. Although epilepsy resolves with time in most cases, many children are left with significant cognitive or language impairment. Aims: Our aim was to examine the clinical and electrophysiological findings and treatment modalities of children with ESES and to evaluate the outcome of the disorder. Materials and methods: Eleven patients aged 3-10, with a diagnosis of ESES and followed-up at least 1 year were included. Results: Steroids were used as first treatment for ESES in 9/11 (82%). Electrical status epilepticus in sleep initially resolved in all patients, but 27% had subsequent relapse. All patients were on two or more Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AED) at ESES diagnosis. None of them had normal mental development before ESES. After at least 1 year of follow-up, three patients were seizure free, still taking AED. Better seizure control was established in seven patients, in one patient there was no reduction of seizures despite antiepileptic therapy. Conclusion: Sleep EEG should be performed in children with unexplained regression or stagnation of development associated with seizures. Early recognition and effective therapy are necessary to improve long-term prognosis in this condition.
Lidija Pocek is affiliated to Department of Pulmonology and Allergology, Institute for Children’ Diseases, Clinical Center of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro.