Abstracts

To describe a possibly new variant of childhood idiopathic localization-related epilepsy., Seven children were reviewed in consultation who presented with similar clinical histories of distinctive, partial-onset seizures. Typically their seizures would begin as simple partial seizures involving one of their feet and/or lower limb and often progress to secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. These patients were studied prospectively and their charts reviewed in detail., All patients were cognitively and neurologically normal. Their average age of first seizure was 10.4 (range 4-13) years. There were four girls. Although six patients had a total of less than 20 seizures, one patient had had about 500 seizures. A typical history involved the patient being fully aware of sensory (burning/tingling) changes involving one foot and/or shaking of that limb before secondary generalization either immediately following or with independant generalized tonic-clonic seizures. All patients underwent brain MRI scans (five on the 3-Tesla machine) which were all normal. All patients also had at least one EEG. All were normal or had normal background. Two patients showed generalized spike wave epileptiform discharges (one with left temporal also) consistent with an idiopathic epilepsy. All patients are currently doing well., These seven patients appear to be have consistent histories of localization-related epilepsy beginning with simple partial seizures involving one foot/lower limb. Their normal cognition and investigations as well as two [quot]positive[quot] EEGs and excellent prognoses would suggest that this may be a new, childhood idiopathic localization-related epilepsy.[table1],