• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.240-245
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Early prediction of prognosis of children resuscitated from cardiac arrest is a major challenge. We investigated the utility of electroencephalography (EEG) and laboratory studies for predicting of neurologic outcome in children resuscitated from cardiac arrest. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients who were resuscitated from cardiac arrest from 2006 to 2015 at the Gil Medical Center. Patients aged one month to 18 years were included. EEG analysis included background scoring, reactivity and seizure burden. EEG background was classified score 0 (normal/organized), score 1 (slow and disorganized), score 2 (discontinuous or burst suppression), and score 3 (suppressed and featureless). Neurologic outcome was evaluated by Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) at least 6 months after cardiac arrest. Results: Total 26 patients were evaluated. Nine patients showed good neurologic outcome (PCPC 1, 2, 3) and 17 patients showed poor neurologic outcome (PCPC 4, 5, 6). Patients of poor neurologic outcome group showed EEG background score 3 in 88.2%, whereas 44.4% in patients of good neurologic outcome group (P=0.028). Electrographic ictal discharges except non-convulsive status epilepticus were presented in 44.4% of good neurologic outcome group and 5.9% of poor neurologic outcome group (P=0.034). Ammonia and lactate levels were higher and pH levels were lower in poor outcome group than good neurologic outcome group. Conclusion: Suppressed and featureless EEG background is associated with poor neurologic outcome and electrographic seizures are associated with good neurologic outcome.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.9
• /
• pp.893-897
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes(BECT) is characterized by an excellent prognosis. Therefore, the necessity for the use of antiepileptic drugs is controversial. The object of this study is to know about the long-term follow-up of BECT, comparing daily treatment with antiepileptic drug(AED) versus no medication. Methods : We retrospectively studied 56 cases of BECTs, examined at Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Korea University Medical Center as reference study time, August 2002. Thirty-eight patients didn't have mediation(group I), while eighteen patients received one or two AED(group II). We evaluated demographics, clinical manifestations at diagnosis, EEG findings and clinical courses in groups I & II. Results : There was no significant differences of sex, age, seizure frequency, seizure type, seizure onset time, family history and EEG findings between group I & II. The reasons to start AED were : parents' anxiety(three cases), frequent seizure(12 cases) and daytime seizure(three cases). There was no evolution of status epilepticus and no difficulty in school performance. Conclusion : AED treatment was of no advantage and long-term prognosis was good regardless of treatment strategy. So it is advisable not to choose AED as the first line of therapy, provided that the patient himself/herself or the family understands the benign nature of BECT.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2005

Glutaric acidemia (GA) type II is a very rare inherited disorder that have no accruate figure on its icidende. People with Glutaric acidemia type II have an enzyme that does not work properly. Two specific enzymes are associated with Glutaric acidemia type II:1. Electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF), 2. ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF-QO). Both of these enzymes have similar functions in the body, and children with Glutaric acidemia type II may lack one or the other of these enzymes. They play an important role in breaking down fats and proteins, and help the body to produce energy. GA II clinically manifested as (1) neonatal onset with congenital anomalies (2) neonatal onset without anomalies, and (3) mild and/or later onset. The first two groups are sometimes said to have multiple acyl CoA dehydrogenation deficiency-severe and the third to have multiple acyl CoA dehydrogenation deficiency-mild. The course and age at presentation of later-onset glutaric acidemia type II is extremely variable, therefore it is difficult to diagnosis. We experienced one case of late onset form glutaric acidemia type II with afebrile status epilepticus-like convulsion.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.306-318
• /
• 1995

To evaluate the intractability of partial epileptic patients by variables, the author studied 113 patients (uncontrolled: 45, controlled: 68) who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University from January, 1991 to August, 1993. The results were as follows. The items related to complex partial seizures, multiple seizure types and a histories of status epilepticus or clusters of seizures were significantly associated with drug-refractoriness (p<0.01). A high frequency of seizures before evaluation was associated with a poor outcome(p<0.01). The presences of known etiology of seizures, neurologic abnormalities and psychiatric disturbance were associated with limited treatment responses(p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.01). An abnormal EEG findings such as background slowing, focal slowing, epileptiform discharges or secondarily bilateral synchrony were statistically significant (p<0.01). Age at onset, sex, distribution of epileptic foci, duration of seizure before evaluation, family history and abnormal neuroradiologic findings were not statistically significant. By these results, it was suggested that having at least four factors of the above variables were associated with limited treatment response.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.10
• /
• pp.1003-1007
• /
• 2003

Purpose : To review the seizure-related complaints and analyze the relationship between admission rates and clinical features in children who had visited the emergency department with seizures. Methods : Retrospectively, we reviewed 180 patients(male 100, female 80) suffering from seizures, who had visited to the emergency department of Chosun University Hospital from January 2000 to June 2002. We have analyzed the correlation between admission rate and clinical features such as age, seizure type, seizure duration and individual laboratory findings(CT or MRI, and CSF). Results : Out of 4,865 total children who visited the emergency department, 180 patients(3.7%) were seizure related. The most common seizure type was simple febrile seizure(52.2%). The admission rate of children with seizures was 48.9%. The admission rate according to age, sex and abnormal laboratory findings revealed no significant correlations(P>0.05). There was a significant correlation between admission and both status epilepticus 82.4%(14/17) and complex febrile seizure 63.6%(14/22) (P<0.05). According to the duration of convulsions, admission rates were 41.2% when within five minutes, 60% when six-15 minutes, 58.8% when 16-30 minutes, 85.7% when 30 minutes, to one hour and 66.7% when above one hour of duration. According to the seizure frequency, admission rates of recurrent seizure patients(61.4%=43/70) was higher compared to the first time seizure patients(40.9%=45/110). Conclusion : We found that the admission rate of children visiting the emergency department for seizure treatment was 48.9% and significantly correlated with duration, type and frequency of seizure.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.280-283
• /
• 2018

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for patients with epileptic seizures to rule out an underlying focal lesion. However, abnormalities in idiopathic generalized epilepsy, including childhood absence epilepsy, cannot usually be identified using brain imaging modalities such as MRI. Peri-ictal MRI abnormalities have been most commonly reported secondary to status epilepticus and are rarely observed in patients with focal seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Transient peri-ictal MRI abnormalities in absence epilepsy are extremely rare. A five-year-old girl presented with a three-day history of absence seizures that persisted despite continued treatment with sodium valproate. Electroencephalography showed bursts of generalized 3-Hz spike-and-wave discharges, during and after hyperventilation. Abnormal cortex thickening in the left perisylvian region was detected on T2-weighted brain MRI, and cortical dysplasia or a tumor was suspected. The patient started treatment with lamotrigine and was seizure-free after one month. The abnormal MRI lesion was completely resolved at the two-month follow-up. We report on a patient with childhood absence epilepsy and reversible brain MRI abnormalities in the perisylvian region. To our knowledge, this is the first report of transient MRI abnormalities after absence seizures. Transient peri-ictal MRI abnormalities should be considered for differential diagnosis in patients with absence seizures and a focal abnormality on brain MRI.