Introduction: Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are an important cause of epilepsy, delayed psychomotor development or neurological deficits. AIM. To report on the long-term clinical course and differential characteristics of several groups of MCD in adults with epilepsy.
Patients and methods: Our sample consisted of patients over 16 years of age with MCD confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging, and epilepsy. The characteristics of the epilepsy, presence of neurological deficits, intellectual disability, history of perinatal pathology and electroencephalogram recordings were analysed. The patients were classified into three groups (G) in accordance with the Barkovich classification.
Results: A total of 85 patients with MCD were identified from 2630 patients with epilepsy and 79 of them were finally included in the sample. Mean age: 37 years, 57% were females. Mean age at onset of the crises: 17.8 years, and 59.5% were medication resistant. The distribution of the cases according to the Barkovich classification was: G1 (alterations affecting neuronal proliferation): 59.5%; G2 (alterations affecting migration): 25.3%; and G3 (alterations affecting cortical organisation): 15.2%. Focal neurological deficit was observed in 19% and 34.2% had an intelligence quotient < 80. On analysing by groups, G3 was found to display a higher percentage of focal neurological and intelligence quotient deficits than G1 and G2 (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Patients with MCD in G3 are more likely to have neurological deficit, intellectual disability and better control over their crises than patients from G1 and G2, most of whom present refractory epilepsy.
Title: Malformaciones del desarrollo cortical en pacientes adultos con epilepsia: serie de 79 casos.
Introduccion. Las malformaciones del desarrollo cortical (MDC) son una causa importante de epilepsia, retraso del desarrollo psicomotor o deficits neurologicos. Objetivo. Describir la evolucion clinica a largo plazo y las caracteristicas diferenciales de los distintos grupos de MDC en adultos con epilepsia. Pacientes y metodos. Pacientes mayores de 16 años con MDC confirmada por resonancia magnetica y epilepsia. Se analizaron las caracteristicas de la epilepsia, la presencia de deficits neurologicos, la discapacidad intelectual, los antecedentes de patologia perinatal y el electroencefalograma. Los pacientes se clasificaron en tres grupos (G) segun la clasificacion de Barkovich. Resultados. Se identificaron 85 pacientes con MDC de 2.630 pacientes con epilepsia, y se incluyeron 79 pacientes. Edad media: 37 años, el 57% mujeres. Edad media al inicio de las crisis: 17,8 años. El 59,5% era farmacorresistente. La distribucion de los casos segun la clasificacion de Barkovich fue: G1 (alteraciones de la proliferacion neuronal): 59,5%; G2 (alteraciones de la migracion): 25,3%; y G3 (alteraciones de la organizacion cortical): 15,2%. El 19% presentaba un deficit neurologico focal y el 34,2% tenia un cociente intelectual < 80. Al analizar por grupos, el G3 mostraba un mayor porcentaje de deficits neurologicos focales y discapacidad intelectual que el G1 y el G2 (p < 0,05). Conclusion. Los pacientes con MDC del G3 tienen mayor probabilidad de tener deficit neurologico, discapacidad intelectual y mejor control de las crisis que los pacientes del G1 y G2, que se manifiestan, predominantemente, con epilepsia farmacorresistente.