The Epilepsy-Aphasia Spectrum: From Landau-Kleffner Syndrome to Rolandic Epilepsy. Thierry Deonna and Eliane Roulet-Perez. London: Mac Keith Press; 2016. ISBN: 9781909962774

Abstract

The authors of this book are Drs. Thierry Deonna and Eliane Roulet-Perez from Lausanne University in Switzerland with 3 doctors from Brussels Free University in Belgium. This book is the first full-scale monograph on Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS). However, the term “LKS” appears only in the subtitle, while the book title is “The Epilepsy-Aphasia Spectrum.” “Spectrum” and not “Syndrome” is the authors’ clear message, which indicates the denial of independent existence of LKS. LKS itself has been first reported in a well-known article entitled “Syndrome of acquired aphasia with convulsive disorder in children” [ [1] Landau W.M. Kleffner F.R. Neurology. 1957; 7: 523-530 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar ]. Epilepsy-Aphasia Syndrome was one of the terms used in the history of LKS [ [2] de Negri M. Some critical notes about “the epilepsy-aphasia syndrome” in children. Brain Dev. 1980; 2: 81-85 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar ]. However, they used the term “syndrome” because the authors’ concept of value seemed to be on the continuity of both auditory verbal symptoms and epileptic pathology. Epilepsy is a “brain” disease, which Hippocrates described around 400 B.C. Countless symptoms of higher cortical functions, especially language, are observed with various severity levels. Dr. Deonna and his group provided extensive medical care to children and adults with epilepsy for a very long time. The etiology of LKS has long been explored and discussed by many specialists without full resolution. However, among the authors’ patients and patients reported in the literature, they thoroughly explored the full records of all patients and were convinced that auditory language symptoms in LKS were better understood as the pure neurophysiologically associated phenomenon with epilepsy. Furthermore, along with the long lasting chaos of electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES) and continuous spike wave during slow sleep (CSWS), the authors seemed to manage the discussion in relation with LKS to some degree. The authors also pointed out that the regression of child behavior/language, formerly termed as Heller disease or disintegrative disorder classified in ICD-10 or DSM-IV, might have some relation with LKS. The reviewer does not fully agree this notion; however, a certain proportion of patients with LKS show symptoms closely resembling autistic regression. Further, the fact that the core symptoms of LKS, the original article, and its descriptors of LKS should be highly respected is the common understanding of the authors and the reviewer.