Age-related morphological differences in the spike-and-wave complexes of absence epilepsy

Yuri Sonoda; Masafumi Sanefuji; Yuko Ichimiya; Michiko Torio; Eriko Watanabe; Ayumi Sakata; Yoshito Ishizaki; Yasunari Sakai; Shouichi Ohga

doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106647

Age-related morphological differences in the spike-and-wave complexes of absence epilepsy

Epilepsy Res. 2021 Aug:174:106647. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106647. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Authors

Yuri Sonoda¹, Masafumi Sanefuji², Yuko Ichimiya³, Michiko Torio³, Eriko Watanabe⁴, Ayumi Sakata⁴, Yoshito Ishizaki⁵, Yasunari Sakai³, Shouichi Ohga³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan; Research Center for Environment and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
² Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan; Research Center for Environment and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan. Electronic address: sanefuji39@gmail.com.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
⁴ Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Fukuoka Higashi Medical Center, 1-1-1 Chidori, Koga, Fukuoka, 811-3195, Japan.

PMID: 33915304
DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106647

Abstract

Objective: Absence epilepsy shows age-related clinical features, as is observed in childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is characterized by bursts of 3 Hz spike-and-wave complex (SWC). We noticed a morphological variation of the slow-wave component of SWCs between patients. This study investigated whether the waveform of SWC might be associated with the child's age of this epilepsy.

Methods: Digitally-recorded EEGs under medication-free conditions were collected from 25 children who received the diagnosis of childhood or juvenile absence epilepsy. The morphology of slow wave in SWC in the frontal midline region was quantitatively compared between younger and older children using a cluster-based permutation test.

Results: At <7 years of age (2.9-6.5 years of age, n = 6), the electrical potential of the descending slope in the slow wave was positively correlated with age whereas this correlation was not observed in patients of ≥7 years of age (7.1-12.9 years, n = 19). A cluster-based permutation test confirmed the results-among the entire slow wave period (0-285 msec), the period of the descending slope (195-260 msec) showed significantly lower potential in patients of <7 years of age in comparison to patients of ≥7 years of age (sum of t-values: 46.57, p-value: 0.011).

Conclusions: The current study demonstrated an age-dependent morphological difference in the slow-wave components of SWCs in EEGs of patients with pediatric absence epilepsy. This finding may provide a clue to understanding the age-related clinical manifestations of this epilepsy.

Keywords: Child; Electroencephalogram; Epilepsy; Quantitative analysis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy, Absence* / diagnosis
Humans