Analysis of childhood epileptic encephalopathies with regard to etiological and prognostic factors.

To analyse the clinical characteristics of patients with childhood epileptic encephalopathies, a retrospective study was carried out on paediatric neurology clinic records of a tertiary hospital. Forty-five children with childhood epileptic encephalopathies were identified. Patients were classified according to the international classification of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes, data were collected regarding age at onset, perinatal problems, presence of psychomotor retardation, radiological findings, etiology and response to therapy. Characteristics of responders versus non-responders were compared. The majority had West syndrome (29/45 or 64.4%). Of the total, 37/45 or 82.2% were symptomatic. The etiologic factors identified included perinatal problems in 24/45 or 53.3%, one patient with tuberous sclerosis and one with Aicardi's syndrome. Psychomotor retardation was seen in 95.5%. Cranial CT scan was normal in 11/26 or 42.3%. Abnormalities included infarcts (4/26), generalised atrophy and hydrocephalus (3/26), porencephalic cysts (2/26) and agenesis of corpus callosum, tuberous sclerosis, gliosis and subdural effusion (one each). Mean follow-up was 18 months and 71.4% responded to ACTH. There was no significant difference between responders and non-responders.