Professional paper - EPILEPSY AMONG CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY BORN IN RIJEKA BETWEEN 1982 AND 1992

Introduction: Children with CP often suffer from associated neurologic problems and the association between CP and epilepsy is considered to be an important issue.
Aim of study: determination of prevalence, particularities, risk factors and prognosis of epilepsy among children with CP
Patients and methods: the study deals with children with CP and epilepsy diagnosed according to the standard criteria, born in Rijeka in the period between 1982 - 1992 and systematically followed at the Centre for Children with Neurodevelopmental Problems. The follow-up issues were: type of CP, timing of occurrence of epilepsy, results of neuroimaging diagnostic, electroencephalography, antiepileptic treatment modalities, prognosis of epilepsy.
Results: Among 89 children with CP, 32 (35.9%) have associated epilepsy, while 16 (50.0%) of them are with occurrence of epilepsy in the first two years of life. Neonatal seizures, sepsis and meningitis in 17 (53.1%) infants, pathologic neuroimaging results in 27 (84.3%) and mental subnormality in 25 (78.1%) are increasing the risk of epilepsy in children with CP. Epilepsy is much more frequent among children with spastic tetraplegia, in 27 (84.3%). Infantile spasms and partial secondary generalised seizures represent more than 50% of the epilepsy variation among these children.
16 (53.3%) of 30 children were treated with antiepileptic politherapy. Although severe epilepsy refractory to treatment was observed in 8 (26.6%) of patients, surprisingly it is 15 (50.0%) of children with seizure-free periods that lasted for more than 5 years, while 16 (53.3%) patients were treated with two or more antiepileptic drugs.
Conclusion: although in children with CP epilepsy is a life-long condition, the use of new antiepileptic drugs which increase the seizure free periods as well as the possibility of neurosurgical treatment, bring more optimism in their families and promise a better quality of life.