Epilepsy syndromes

Question 1

Epilepsy syndromes:

Benign Childhood epilepsy with Centrotemporal spikes?

Answer 1

• mid childhood onset
• occurs during sleep
• typically focal (face, mouth, gurgling) but can progress to generalised seizure
• most are seizure free by adolescence
• may not require treatment

Question 2

Epilepsy syndromes:
Infantile spasm (West Syndrome)?

Answer 2

• occur 4 - 12 months of age
• typically head, neck, trunk flexion episodes noted
• occur in runs lasting minutes
• treatment with prednisolone most commonly

Question 3

Epilepsy syndromes:

Lennox Gastaut Syndrome?

Answer 3

• intellectual disability and multiple seizure types
• slow spike wave pattern on EEG
• typically managed with sodium valproate

Question 4

Epilepsy syndromes:

Myoclonic Epilepsy?

Answer 4

• most common epilepsy form
• onset in adolescence
• typically history of waking myoclonic jerks that can persist with a single tonic clonic seizure
• long term treatment usually required
• sodium valproate is used most commonly

Question 5

Epilepsy syndromes:

Abscence Epilepsies?

Answer 5

-genetic association
-bimodal peak onset at 4 - 9years and 10 - 15years
-25% can go on to develop tonic clonic seizures
Treatment
1) Ethosuximide
2) Sodium Valproate