Intelligence quotient (IQ) among children with epilepsy: National epidemiological study - Sudan

Clinical, genetic, and cognitive correlates of seizure occurrences in Phelan-McDermid syndrome

BACKGROUND

Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by SHANK3 haploinsufficiency and is associated with an increased risk for seizures. Previous literature indicates that around one third of individuals with PMS also have epilepsy or seizures, with a wide range of types and ages of onset. Investigating the impact of seizures on intellectual and adaptive functioning for PMS is a primary concern for caregivers and is important to understanding the natural history of this syndrome.

METHODS

We report on results from 98 individuals enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study. We detailed seizure frequency, type, and age of onset, and we analyzed seizure occurrence with best estimate IQ, adaptive functioning, clinical features, and genotype. We conducted multiple linear regression analyses to assess the relationship between the presence of seizures and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, Second Edition (VABS-II) Adaptive Behavior Composite score and the best estimate full-scale IQ. We also performed Chi-square tests to explore associations between seizure prevalence and genetic groupings. Finally, we performed Chi-square tests and t-tests to explore the relationship between seizures and demographic features, features that manifest in infancy, and medical features.

RESULTS

Seizures were present in 41% of the cohort, and age of onset was widely variable. The presence of seizures was associated with significantly lower adaptive and intellectual functioning. Genotype-phenotype analyses were discrepant, with no differences in seizure prevalence across genetic classes, but with more genes included in deletions of participants with 22q13 deletions and seizures compared to those with 22q13 deletions and no seizures. No clinical associations were found between the presence of seizures and sex, history of pre- or neonatal complications, early infancy, or medical features. In this cohort, generalized seizures were associated with developmental regression, which is a top concern for PMS caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

These results begin to eludicate correlates of seizures in individuals with PMS and highlight the importance of early seizure management. Importantly, presence of seizures was associated with adaptive and cognitive functioning. A larger cohort might be able to identify additional associations with medical features. Genetic findings suggest an increased capability to realize genotype-phenotype relationships when deletion size is taken into account.

The Scale Assessment of Executive Functions-Adult (SAEF-A): Construction of a valid ecological instrument

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to validate the SAEF-A (Scale Assessment Of Executive Functions-Adult) test, a new instrument for measuring executive functions in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study participants are residents of Fez-Meknes over 18 years old. Two groups were enrolled: people with epilepsy and a healthy group. We constructed the tests in all three Moroccan languages: Darija, Tamazight, and Arabic. We validated the SAEF-A test according to Bernaud's instructions compared to the BRIEF-A test.

RESULTS

The Alpha Cronbach and Split Half were 92% and 88%, respectively. Exploratory research results highlight five facets of perceived value. Significant convergent validation existed between the BRIEF-A subscales and the SAEF-A scale. The results show that the people with epilepsy sample can be discriminated from the healthy ones in all dimensions, except planning, with a minor difference.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide good reliability and validity for the SAEF-A. It will be helpful in studies of Moroccan adults and other people.

Clinical characteristics and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of leukomalacia in preterm infants and term infants: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Leukomalacia is a serious form of neonatal brain injury that often leads to neurodevelopmental impairment, and studies on neonatal leukomalacia and its long-term outcomes are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical manifestations, imaging features, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants and term infants with leukomalacia.

METHODS

Newborns diagnosed with leukomalacia by head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and who were admitted to intensive care units from January 2015 to June 2020 were enrolled. All infants were followed up to June 2022 (2-7 years old), and their neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated. The clinical data and long- term outcomes of preterm infants and term infants was analyzed by Chi-square tests.

RESULTS

A total of 218 surviving infants with leukomalacia including 114 preterm infants and 104 term infants completed the follow-up. The major typesof leukomalacia on MRI were periventricular leukomalacia in the preterm group and subcortical cystic leukomalacia in the term group, respectively (χ2 = 55.166; p < 0.001). When followed up to 2-7 years old, the incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment in the preterm group and term group was not significantly different (χ2 = 0.917; p = 0.338). However, the incidence of cerebral palsy (CP) in the preterm group was significantly higher (χ2 = 4.896; p = 0.027), while the incidence of intellectual disability (ID) (χ2 = 9.445; p = 0.002), epilepsy (EP) (χ2 = 23.049; p < 0.001), and CP combined with ID andEP (χ2 = 4.122; p = 0.042) was significantly lower than that in the term group.

CONCLUSIONS

Periventricular leukomalacia mainly occurred in preterm infants while subcortical cystic leukomalacia was commonly seen in term infants. Although the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of leukomalacia were both poor, preterm infants were more prone to CP, while term infants were more prone to ID, EP, and the combination of CP with ID and EP.

Neuropsychological performance in patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy and different factors that affect their performance

Background

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) accounts for nearly 30% of patients with epilepsy, which is associated with high incidence of cognitive comorbidity. The aim of this work was to study the role of neuropsychological assessment in patients with epilepsy, and different factors that affect their performance in patients with multiple factors (focal onset DRE).

Methods

118 patients were recruited from Kasr Alainy hospital, epilepsy outpatient clinic with focal DRE. The patients’ demographic and clinical data were collected, Electroencephalograph (EEG) interictal/ictal (when available), and brain imaging (MRI epilepsy protocol). Neuropsychological assessment by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV), proposed neurocognitive assessment battery and mood assessment was done. Their performance in neuropsychological assessment was correlated with the collected data. Concordance between different assessment modalities and brain lesion were done.

Results

Among recruited patients, 67.3% of patients showed Full-scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) was less than average. FSIQ score significantly correlated with years of education, and number of anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Neurocognitive assessment battery could achieve cognitive profile of the patients but with poor lateralizing value. Executive function was the most affected cognitive domain. History of status epilepticus significantly affect FSIQ and executive function performance. Fifty-six percent of patients had depression. Among the analyzed factors, FSIQ and lesional brain imaging significantly affected neurocognitive performance of studied patients. Clinical semiology had better concordance in lateralization (74.7%) and localization (69.5%) with brain imaging compared to ictal EEG. Among patients who had ictal EEG recording, 36.4% patients (25% were temporal lobe) had complete concordance, while 38.6% patients had partial concordance.

Conclusions

Among analyzed factors, FSIQ was the most significant determinant of studied population’s neurocognitive performance. Clinical semiology were the best correlated with brain lesion. Complete concordance was best detected at the temporal lobe.