Tatsuya Ogino

Very Fast Rhythmic Activity on Scalp EEG Associated with Epileptic Spasms

Summary:  Purpose: Very fast activity was investigated on the ictal EEGs of epileptic spasms to elucidate the pathophysiology of West syndrome (WS) and related disorders from a novel point of view.

Are pervasive developmental disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder distinct disorders?

We studied the relationship between patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and those with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), using the High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and ADHD Rating Scale-IV. The ASSQ scores of the PDD group and the ADHD group were significantly higher than the control group. Furthermore, the PDD group scored higher than the ADHD group. Both groups also showed higher scores than the control group in all three domains, that is, restricted and repetitive behavior, social interaction, and communication problem. The PDD and the ADHD group showed no significant difference in the domains of communication problem, and restricted and repetitive behavior. The PDD group had a higher score than the ADHD group only in the social interaction domain. In total score, inattention score, and hyperactivity/impulsivity score on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, both groups were significantly higher than the control group. Between the ADHD and the PDD groups, there was no significant difference in the three scores. The patients with strictly diagnosed ADHD had many PDD-related symptoms, and the patients with PDD had many ADHD-related symptoms. It therefore seems difficult to make a distinction between ADHD and PDD by using the present diagnostic criteria in the DSM-IV. We should evaluate each patient in terms of both sets of criteria.

The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure as a Measure of Executive Function in Childhood

In adults, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) can be used for the assessment of not only visuoconstructional ability and visual memory, but also executive function in adults. We studied whether ROCF scores also correlated with executive function in childhood. The subjects consisted of 56 patients with various neurological diseases (5 years 7 months-14 years 11 months; mean: 8 years 8 months; M 42, F 14) whose full-scale IQs were 70 or higher (mean: 93.3). All subjects underwent the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children third edition (WISC-III) and various psychological tests focusing on executive function. We evaluated the ROCF with the Boston Qualitative Scoring System (BQSS). We calculated the partial correlation coefficients between the BQSS Summary Scores and representative scores of other executive function tests, using age as the control variable. Among the scores of the various examinations, the Perseverative Errors of Nelson of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the raw scores of the Mazes (WISC-III), the Digit Span (WISC-III), and the Block Design (WISC-III) were correlated significantly with two to four BQSS Summary Scores (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In contrast, the scores of the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Test, and the Commission Error of Continuous Performance Test-II did not show a significant correlation with any of the BQSS Summary Scores. The ROCF evaluated with the BQSS reflects not only visuoperceptual ability and visuoconstructional ability, but also executive function, especially planning and organization. However, a new BQSS Summary Score should be devised since no existing BQSS index specifically reflects executive functions with an outstandingly strong correlation.

Prevalence of childhood epilepsy and distribution of epileptic syndromes: a population-based survey in Okayama, Japan.

Summary:  Methods: Information on patients younger than 13 years with active epilepsy was collected from medical records. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy according to clinical and EEG findings were put on the list even if those patients had had a single seizure or seizures occurring during febrile episodes.

Treatment of the west syndrome with high-dose pyridoxal phosphate

Fifteen (12.7%) among 118 cases of the West syndrome were effectively treated by high-dose pyridoxal phosphate (PAL-P). 1) Clinical seizures were completely suppressed in 12 cases with PAL-P alone, and in 3 cases by an addition of PAL-P to the previously poorly-effective regimen. At the follow-up, 12 cases have continued to be free from seizures, while two cases relapsed into the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and one died. 2) Electroencephalographically hypsarhythmia disappeared by PAL-P in all 15 effective cases. 3) Effective daily dose of PAL-P was 30 to 400 mg. 4) Notably, PAL-P was effective even in the cases with obvious organic brain pathology, such as tuberous sclerosis, porencephaly, holoprosencephaly, postmeningitis, besides 5 idiopathic cases. 5) Efficacy of PAL-P was significantly higher in idiopathic cases than symptomatic cases; 35.7% vs 9.6%. 6) Response to PAL-P was not predictable by any laboratory data nor clinical features. 7) Prognosis of PAL-P responsive cases was favorable; as many as 6 cases developed normally among 14 cases followed-up. Treatment with a high-dose PAL-P should be tried in all cases of the West syndrome at first.

Spasms in clusters in epilepsies other than typical West syndrome

Although spasms in clusters are one of the major characteristics of West syndrome (WS), there are a significant number of patients who show spasms in clusters but do not fit the standard pattern of WS. It is possible to divide these atypical cases into the following three groups. Group 1: refractory epilepsies beginning in early infancy, associated with atypical electroencephalographic (EEG) features; Group 2: generalized epilepsies with spasms in clusters at ages of 2-3 years or above; and Group 3: localization-related epilepsies with spasms in clusters. Ictal clinical and EEG findings of spasms in clusters in these atypical patients and also those in WS are similar. Patients in Group 1 often suffer from Aicardi syndrome, cortical malformations, early myoclonic encephalopathy and Ohtahara syndrome. Most patients in Group 2 suffer from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other generalized epilepsies such as severe epilepsy with multiple independent spike foci. A significant number of them had a history of WS. Small number of patients in Group 2 can be diagnosed as having late-onset WS or long-lasting WS. In Groups 1 and 3 patients, cortical mechanisms play a critical role in their pathophysiology. The presence of older patients with spasms in clusters might indicate not only developing process of the brain but also some selective dysfunction of the brain plays an important role in the occurrence of spasms in clusters. Investigations on these atypical patients can help the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of WS and its related epileptic syndromes.

Child Epilepsy: The Epileptic Syndrome Sharing Common Characteristics during Early Childhood with Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infancy

As previously reported, severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SME)I2 has the following characteristics before the onset of myoclonic seizures and atypical absences3; ( 1 ) a high incidence of family history of convulsive disorders, (2) the onset in early to middle infancy with generalized and/or alternating hemiconvulsions which are easily precipitated by fever or hot baths, ( 3 ) additional appearance of characteristic complex partial seizures around one year of age, ( 4 ) easy development to convulsive status epilepticus during infancy, ( 5 ) difficulty in detecting epileptic EEG discharges in infancy, (6) strong resistance against AED treatment, and ( 7 ) no developmental retardation prior to the onset. In part of the cases with these characteristics in infancy, however, neither myoclonic seizures nor atypical absences developed f ~ r t h e r . ~ Clinical and electroencephalographic evaluations of this group of patients were undertaken in this paper.

Long-term follow-up of vitamin B6-responsive West syndrome

We performed a clinical and electroencephalographic follow-up study on 25 patients with West syndrome that was responsive to vitamin B(6) (eight cryptogenic patients and 17 symptomatic patients) who were older than 3 years at the last follow-up. All cryptogenic patients and 13 symptomatic patients were seizure free at the last follow-up. All cryptogenic patients and seven symptomatic patients had intelligent quotient or developmental quotient scores of 75 or higher. The recurrence of clinical seizures was always associated with increases in epileptic discharges. We could successfully discontinue pyridoxal phosphate administration in four cryptogenic and four symptomatic patients who were 1 year, 8 months to 24 years old.

Symptoms related to ADHD observed in patients with pervasive developmental disorder.

To elucidate attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related factors observed in high-function pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and their impact on daily life, we classified high-function PDD patients according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for ADHD with the exception of the exclusion criteria (coexistence with PDD), and studied the relationship between ADHD-related aspects and daily behavior problems using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1, eight patients less than 6 years of age; and Group II, eight patients 6 years of age and older. Six patients in Group II met the criteria for ADHD. Five of them were classified as having the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD, and the remaining patient exhibited the combined type. However, no patient in Group I met the criteria for ADHD, suggesting the low sensitivity of the DSM-IV criteria for assessing the inattentiveness of preschoolers. The analyses of the correlation between corresponding items in the DSM-IV criteria and CBCL scores suggested that ADHD-related symptoms in high-function PDD patients have an impact on their daily lives.

Characteristics of Slow Waves on EEG Associated with Epileptic Spasms

Summary:  Purpose: The high‐voltage slow waves (HVSs) on EEG associated with epileptic spasms were investigated to clarify their characteristics and their relation to the pathophysiology of spasms in West syndrome and related disorders.