Epilepsy in Children with Down Syndrome: Case Series

Authors : Muhittin Bodur, Rabia Tütüncü Toker
Pages : 101-104
Doi:10.32708/uutfd.1647122
View : 61 | Download : 84
Publication Date : 2025-05-27
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Epilepsy is more common in children with Down Syndrome than in the normal population. This study examined the clinical and treatment outcomes of children with epilepsy in Down syndrome. This study was conducted retrospectively in children with Down syndrome and epilepsy at the Child Neurology Clinic between January 2020 and August 2024. Medical records were examined in terms of gender, age, age at seizure onset, age at diagnosis, comorbidities, level of intellectual disability, seizure types, previously used antiepileptic drugs, antiepileptic drugs at the last follow-up, interictal electroencephalogram findings, and brain magnetic resonance imaging results. A total of twelve children (five boys and seven girls) with Down syndrome and epilepsy were identified. The median age of the patients was 105.5 months; the median age of seizure onset was twelve months. The seizure types of the patients were as follows: eight patients had focal seizures (focal clonic in six cases, focal tonic/clonic in two cases), three patients had epileptic spasms, and one patient had generalized seizures. When all antiepileptic drugs used by the patients were examined, it was seen that six patients used valproic acid, three patients used ACTH, three patients used phenobarbital, three patients used phenytoin, two patients used topiramate, and one patient used carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and levetiracetam. In this study, the frequency of epilepsy in individuals with Down Syndrome was determined to be 8.76%. Epilepsy in children with Down Syndrome can impede cognitive and motor development and significantly affect their quality of life, especially if diagnosis is delayed or therapeutic management is inadequate. Therefore, early diagnosis and correct treatment are essential for these patients.
Keywords : Down sendromu, epilepsi, çocuk

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