The Lennox Syndrome

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The clinical findings in 40 children with seizures compatible with the label of Lennox syndrome or myoclonic-astatic petit mal are presented. This type of epilepsy has to be suspected if a combination of various seizure patterns (atonic-akinetic seizures, head drooping attacks, atypical absences, myoclonic seizures, grand mal, hemiconvulsions) is present in children of 1–6 years of age who are mentally retarded. Perinatal brain damage, tuberous sclerosis, intrauterine encephalitis due to toxoplasmosis and cytomegalic inclusion disease, neurocutaneous melanoblastosis were the etiological factors discovered in 12 children, the remaining 28 being classified as cryptogenic. Age dependency and the different etiologies lead to the assumption that this type of epilepsy is an un-specific reaction of the brain during a certain developmental stage to a generally severe damage. As the characteristic EEG findings might be detected only in the course of several years a tentative label of Lennox syndrome can be postulated on clinical grounds alone. Early labeling would permit an early choice of such drugs as e.g. Mogadon® which have a better chance in combating this type of epilepsy which shows a poor response to most anticonvulsive treatments.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: