Shall we treat patients with benign epileptiform discharges of childhood without epileptic seizures?

Abstract

Benign epileptiform discharges of childhood are age-dependent electroencephalogram patterns associated with idiopathic benign focal epilepsy. Multiple studies have demonstrated that focal epileptiform discharges can be registered in patients without any clinical manifestations of epilepsy. Long-term follow-up of clinically healthy children with benign epileptiform discharges of childhood on electroencephalogram demonstrated that 14 % of them developed epileptic seizures with age and 50 % developed various cognitive and behavioral disorders. The question of whether or not to treat such patients (with benign epileptiform discharges of childhood on electroencephalogram but without epileptic seizure) is still being widely discussed. Individual decision making with the consideration of potential risks and benefits for a patient is preferable in this case. Valproic acid is the drug of first choice in these patients.