Risk factors for transition of febrile convulsions to epilepsy

Abstract

Object : to assess a relationship between febrile convulsions (FC) and epilepsy. Patients and methods. The role of perinatal hereditary diseases, a family history of FC and epilepsy, as well as clinical findings and the results of supplementary studies (electroencephalography and brain magnetic resonance imaging) were analyzed in children with a history of FC. One hundred and sixty-three children with a history of FC were followed up for 8 to 12 years. Two groups of children with transition of febrile convulsions to epilepsy (n=24) and with a good outcome (n=139) were compared. Results and discussion. The findings suggest that factors, such as a family history of epilepsy, the focal pattern of FC, and neurologic changes, highly significantly affect the transformation of FC to epilepsy. Changes in epileptiform EEG activity and abnormal structural neuroimaging are markers for the high probability of transition of febrile convulsions to epilepsy.