Pediatric epilepsy syndromes.

The development of an international classification for epilepsies and epileptic syndromes has led to substantial progress in the understanding and treatment of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsies and epileptic syndromes are partitioned first by seizure type and then by etiology. This manuscript describes recent advances in six major pediatric epilepsy syndromes. The first three discussed (benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and childhood absence epilepsy) are the three most common epilepsy syndromes, and each has been the focus of significant research. Patients with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (benign rolandic epilepsy) may not require anticonvulsant therapy, and their seizures always remit by midadolescence. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy was the first major epilepsy syndrome for which a gene locus was found. The underlying neuronal pathways and cellular mechanisms of the generalized absence seizures of childhood absence epilepsy are well delineated. The last three syndromes discussed (West syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and acquired epileptic aphasia) are devastating catastrophic epileptic syndromes. The focus of research in West syndrome (infantile spasms) has been to develop better therapeutic interventions (both medical and surgical) and an improved understanding of its pathogenesis. New effective medications are available for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (childhood epileptic encephalopathy), but one of them (felbamate) has been associated with previously unrecognized serious side effects. Lastly, acquired epileptic aphasia is an example of a poorly understood epilepsy syndrome. A multicenter group has been organized to reexamine this syndrome and produce a better understanding of its pathogenesis and treatment.