Epilepsia de ausencias infantil y juvenil y comorbilidades asociadas

Abstract

Introduction

Among the idiopathic generalized epilepsies, absence epilepsy is the most prevalent type. They can be associated with cognitive, behavioral, or psychiatric disorders.

Objective

To describe the clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics, as well as the comorbidities, in children under 18 years old who had childhood and juvenile absences epilepsy.

Patients and methods

Retrospective, single-center, observational study in a referral center for 8 years.

Results

Of the 103 patients, 67 were female (65%). The median age of the first crisis was 7 years. Forty-four percent of patients had a personal history of seizures, and half had a family history of epilepsy. Learning disorders were present in 21% of the patients; 14% had associated attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders, and 11% had both. Anxiety and depression were found in 10% of children. The electroencephalogram, in most cases (68%), presented abnormal activity. The most used drug was valproic acid.

Conclusion

Behavioral, cognitive, and psychiatric comorbidities are common in children with childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy, so an active search for these disorders is required in order to achieve timely treatment and reduce the impact on the school life of children and adolescents.