[Rolandic epilepsy. An analysis of the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics, treatment and prognosis in 87 patients]. / Epilepsia rolándica. Análisis de las características clínicas, electrofisiológicas, tratamiento y pronóstico en 87 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Rolandic epilepsy is the most common epileptic syndrome in infancy. It usually has a favourable prognosis and seizures disappear during the teenage years. AIMS: The aim of this study was to describe a sample of children diagnosed with rolandic epilepsy in clinical, electrophysiological and imaging terms. We also intend to compare the results obtained with those described in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of the children diagnosed with rolandic epilepsy who had been submitted to a follow-up at the Neuropaediatrics Unit at the HGSA since 1989. Children who were less than 2 years old when they suffered their first seizures or who had abnormal neurological/imaging examinations were excluded. Two groups were defined (typical and atypical), several variables were characterised and these were then analysed statistically. RESULTS: A total of 87 children (51 males) were included in this study, their mean age being 13.6 years. The population was divided into two groups: A (typical cases; n = 69) and B (atypical cases; n = 18). The mean age at the onset of seizures was 6.2 and 6 years for groups A and B, respectively. The predominant type of seizures was simple partial for group A and complex partial for group B; they were mainly sporadic and nocturnal in both groups. Medication was administered to 51 (73.9%) of the children in group A, with a good response in 78.4% of them; 13 members of group B (72.2%) received medication, with a positive response in 76.9% of them. CONCLUSIONS: Rolandic epilepsy has a broad clinical spectrum and usually courses with normal psychomotor development, but may coexist with learning disabilities. In this study, no significant differences were found between the typical and atypical forms of presentation, as far as their progress and response to treatment are concerned.

Epilepsia rolándica. Análisis de las características clínicas, electrofisiológicas, tratamiento y pronóstico en 87 pacientes / Rolandic epilepsy. An analysis of the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics, treatment and prognosis in 87 patients

Introducción. La epilepsia rolándica es el síndrome epiléptico más común en la infancia, que presenta generalmente un buen pronóstico y desaparición de las crisis en la adolescencia. Objetivos. Describir en términos clínicos, electrofisiológicos e imaginológicos una población de niños con diagnóstico de epilepsia rolándica. Comparar los resultados obtenidos con lo descrito en la literatura. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo de los niños seguidos en la Consulta de Neuropediatría del HGSA desde 1989, con el diagnóstico de epilepsia rolándica. Se excluyeron los niños que tenían menos de 2 años de edad en la primera crisis o con exámenes neurológicos/imaginológicos anormales. Se definieron dos grupos (típico y atípico), se caracterizaron diversas variables y se procedió a su análisis estadístico. Resultados. Se incluyeron 87 niños (51 de sexo masculino) con una edad media de 13,6 años. La población se dividió en dos grupos: A (casos típicos; n = 69) y B (casos atípicos; n = 18). La edad media del inicio de las crisis fue de 6,2 y 5,9 años, respectivamente para los grupos A y B. El tipo de crisis predominante fue parcial simple para el grupo A y parcial compleja para el grupo B; resultaron mayoritariamente esporádicas y nocturnas en ambos grupos. Se medicó a 51 (73,9%) niños del grupo A, con buena respuesta en el 78,4%, y a 13 (72,2%) del grupo B, con buena respuesta en el 76,9%. Conclusiones. La epilepsia rolándica presenta un amplio espectro clínico, sigue su curso generalmente con un desarrollo psicomotor normal, pero puede coexistir con problemas de aprendizaje. No se hallaron diferencias significativas entre ambas formas de presentación típica y atípica, en lo que hace referencia a la evolución y respuesta al tratamiento (AU)

Introduction. Rolandic epilepsy is the most common epileptic syndrome in infancy. It usually has a favourable prognosis and seizures disappear during the teenage years. Aims. The aim of this study was to describe a sample of children diagnosed with rolandic epilepsy in clinical, electrophysiological and imaging terms. We also intend to compare the results obtained with those described in the literature. Patients and methods. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of the children diagnosed with rolandic epilepsy who had been submitted to a follow-up at the Neuropaediatrics Unit at the HGSA since 1989. Children who were less than 2 years old when they suffered their first seizures or who had abnormal neurological/imaging examinations were excluded. Two groups were defined (typical and atypical), several variables were characterised and these were then analysed statistically. Results. A total of 87 children (51 males) were included in this study, their mean age being 13.6 years. The population was divided into two groups: A (typical cases; n = 69) and B (atypical cases; n = 18). The mean age at the onset of seizures was 6.2 and 6 years for groups A and B, respectively. The predominant type of seizures was simple partial for group A and complex partial for group B; they were mainly sporadic and nocturnal in both groups. Medication was administered to 51 (73.9%) of the children in group A, with a good response in 78.4% of them; 13 members of group B (72.2%) received medication, with a positive response in 76.9% of them. Conclusions. Rolandic epilepsy has a broad clinical spectrum and usually courses with normal psychomotor development, but may coexist with learning disabilities. In this study, no significant differences were found between the typical and atypical forms of presentation, as far as their progress and response to treatment are concerned (AU)