OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the effects of long-term carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproate acid (VPA) therapy on thyroid function in epileptic children. DESIGN A prospective study performed in 32 newly diagnosed pediatric patients, subdivided into two groups: 18 patients treated with CBZ and 14 patients treated with VPA. Thirty-two sex- and age- matched subjects served as controls. METHODS S...

PURPOSE Numerous studies have suggested that the ketogenic diet is effective in the treatment of epileptic spasms, even in refractory cases. However, there has been very limited demonstration of prompt and complete (video-EEG confirmed) response. We set out to describe our center's experience with the ketogenic diet in the treatment of children with highly refractory epileptic spasms, with rigo...

PURPOSE The goal of this retrospective study is to review the causes of infantile spasms and to correlate aetiology with outcome. METHODS All children diagnosed with infantile spasms between 1990 and 2003 at our institution were included. Charts were reviewed for the presence or absence of a defined aetiology/association, response to treatment, long-term epileptic and cognitive outcome. RES...

INTRODUCTION Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in early childhood. Epilepsy is known to have a high association with cerebral palsy. All types of epileptic seizures can be seen in patients with cerebral palsy. Complex partial and secondary generalized ones are the most frequent seizure types. In persons with cerebral palsy and mental retardation, the diagnosis of ep...

OBJECTIVE To compare the intellectual coefficient (IQ) of three groups of children with epilepsy: 1) medically controlled, 2) medically uncontrolled and 3) surgically controlled. METHODS From December 2007 until July 2008, 98 pediatric patients were selected, with an age range between 6 and 12 years. Neuropsychological assessment included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-third edi...