Differentiating ictal/subclinical spikes and waves in childhood absence epilepsy by spectral and network analyses: A pilot study

Ami Kumar; Ekaterina Lyzhko; Laith Hamid; Anand Srivastav; Ulrich Stephani; Natia Japaridze

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2021.06.011

Differentiating ictal/subclinical spikes and waves in childhood absence epilepsy by spectral and network analyses: A pilot study

Clin Neurophysiol. 2021 Sep;132(9):2222-2231. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.06.011. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Authors

Ami Kumar¹, Ekaterina Lyzhko², Laith Hamid³, Anand Srivastav⁴, Ulrich Stephani⁵, Natia Japaridze⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuropediatrics, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Kiel, Boschstraße 1, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: kumar.uksh@gmail.com.
² Department of Neuropediatrics, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany; Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Kiel, Preußerstraße 1-9, 24105 Kiel, Germany; Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology RAS - the Branch of Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Vitkevich St., 142290, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia. Electronic address: e.lyzhko@gmail.com.
³ Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Kiel, Preußerstraße 1-9, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
⁴ Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Kiel, Boschstraße 1, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
⁵ Department of Neuropediatrics, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany.

PMID: 34311205
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.06.011

Abstract

Objective: Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a disease with distinct seizure semiology and electroencephalographic (EEG) features. Differentiating ictal and subclinical generalized spikes and waves discharges (GSWDs) in the EEG is challenging, since they appear to be identical upon visual inspection. Here, spectral and functional connectivity (FC) analyses were applied to routine EEG data of CAE patients, to differentiate ictal and subclinical GSWDs.

Methods: Twelve CAE patients with both ictal and subclinical GSWDs were retrospectively selected for this study. The selected EEG epochs were subjected to frequency analysis in the range of 1-30 Hz. Further, FC analysis based on the imaginary part of coherency was used to determine sensor level networks.

Results: Delta, alpha and beta band frequencies during ictal GSWDs showed significantly higher power compared to subclinical GSWDs. FC showed significant network differences for all frequency bands, demonstrating weaker connectivity between channels during ictal GSWDs.

Conclusion: Using spectral and FC analyses significant differences between ictal and subclinical GSWDs in CAE patients were detected, suggesting that these features could be used for machine learning classification purposes to improve EEG monitoring.

Significance: Identifying differences between ictal and subclinical GSWDs using routine EEG, may improve understanding of this syndrome and the management of patients with CAE.

Keywords: Childhood Absence Epilepsy; EEG; Functional Connectivity; Spectral analysis; ictal GSWDs; subclinical GSWDs.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Alpha Rhythm*
Beta Rhythm*
Child
Epilepsy, Absence / physiopathology*
Female
Humans
Male
Pilot Projects