[Mental and behavioral disorders in idiopathic focal epileptiform spikes].

Clinical correlates of so-called "benign epileptiform spikes in children", centro-temporal (rolandic) spikes and occipital spikes, have been studied in 200 children, aged 3-17 years, with mental, behavioral and neuropsychological disorders without epileptic seizures (non-paroxysmal epileptic disorders). Centro-temporal spikes prevailing in the left hemisphere were observed in older children and predominantly related to verbal and speech disorders. Occipital spikes were observed in younger children mainly in the right hemisphere being related to non-verbal and neuropsychological disorders. In both groups, a wide spectrum of behavioral and mental disorders including speech as well as visual and functional disorders, attention deficit and hyperactivity, global mental delay, difficulties in study was observed, the disorders being combined in some cases. Clinical symptoms in both types of spikes are thought to be related to their localization in the brain cortex, functional hemisphere asymmetry and peculiarities of the child neurodevelopment. The pathological types presented in the study should be named "idiopathic focal epileptiform spikes in children". In all cases, both children with respective forms of epilepsy and those with epileptiform phenomena being not combined with epileptic seizures should undergo encephalographic, neuropsychological and pediatric examination. Should the respective disturbances be found, children would need a treatment directed to the EEG-controlled inhibition of epileptiform activity. The data obtained suggest that this treatment improves children school adaptation and school results. The drugs of choice are valproic acid (depakine chrono), lamotrigine (lamictal), levetiracetam (keppra).