Incidence of Drug‐Induced Aggravation in Benign Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes

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Abstract
Summary: Purpose: Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is characterized by an excellent prognosis. Drug therapy is necessary in only a minority of patients. Carbamazepine (CBZ) and phenobarbital (PB) have been reported to cause electroclinical aggravation in some cases. The incidence of drug‐induced aggravation in BECTS has never been established. Methods: We retrospectively studied 98 consecutive cases of BECTS, examined at the Centre Saint Paul between 1984 and 1999; 82 patients had received one or more treatments, often successively and in association. Results: We found only one case of electroclinical aggravation with CBZ among 40 patients exposed to CBZ (35 in monotherapy, five in polytherapy). An additional case showed a marked EEG aggravation on CBZ + PB among 14 patients taking PB (nine with monotherapy and five with polytherapy), and PB was apparently responsible. No patient treated with valproate or benzodiazepines showed aggravation. Conclusions: Aggravation of BECTS caused by antiepileptic drugs happens only rarely. There is a minor risk of aggravation with CBZ and also probably with PB. Drug‐induced aggravation may occur only during certain periods coinciding with spontaneous worsening of BECTS.