Abstracts

Rationale: Individuals with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) often have fluctuating neurological courses. A method which could help predict neurological deterioration may allow for an increase in prophylactic measures, such as aspirin, anti-epileptic therapy and increased hydration. Methods: 13 individuals with SWS, aged 1 month to 17 years (mean = 3 years), had two research visits, separated by 1 to 20 months (mean = 10 months). The first was comprised of a standard clinical EEG and a clinical exam with neuroscore (a scale of SWS neurological involvement, comprised of severity measures for hemiparesis, visual field cuts, seizures and developmental delay; range 0-15, with 15 being most severe). The second visit consisted of only a clinical exam with neuroscore. The EEG was quantified as described in Hatfield et al (Epilepsia, 2007). We performed a step-wise logistical regression, with second-visit neuroscore as the dependent variable. The first-visit neuroscore was the first independent variable entered into the model, and qEEG laterality score was the second independent variable. Results: R² for the first-visit neuroscore alone was 0.486. R² for both first-visit neuroscore and first-visit qEEG laterality score was 0.699, with an F Change significance of 0.041. Conclusions: Quantitative EEG laterality score can help predict severity of neurological involvement 1 to 20 months after the EEG is performed. The information yield of qEEG appears to be additive to that of a neuroscore of the severity of neurological involvement at the time the EEG is performed. Further research will delineate the predictive value of qEEG.