Analysis and clinical correlates of the 14 and 6 Hz positive electroencephalographic spikes in Chinese children.

From January 1987 to March 1991, electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis and clinical correlates of the 14 and 6 Hz positive spikes were studied retrospectively in 2,026 Chinese patients, ranging in age from 1 to 18 years. All of them were the first-evaluation patients of Pediatric Neurology Clinics, National Taiwan University Hospital, each had had through EEG examinations (including waking and natural sleep records) and detailed medical records. The major findings of the present study are: (1) The overall incidence of the 14 and 6 Hz positive spikes in the series was 2.52% (51/2,026), and that in the age subgroup 1-5 years was significantly lower than those in the subgroups 6-10 years (p less than 0.0001) and 11-15 years (p less than 0.01). (2) 38 out of 51 cases (74.5%) with 14 and 6 Hz positive spikes presented normal EEG background activity. (3) 7 out of 51 cases (13.7%) had coincided negative spikes in frontal areas, and 12 out of 51 cases (23.5%) were associated with other focal or generalized paroxysmal discharges. (4) From the analysis of the clinical manifestations in the 51 cases with the 14 and 6 Hz positive spikes, the episodic attacks of headache, abdominal pain or other autonomic symptoms were most common (49%, 25/51 cases). Of the 25 cases, 19 cases (37.2%, 19/51 cases) were finally diagnosed as autonomic seizure or abdominal epilepsy and 3 cases were diagnosed as migraine. 3 of 10 cases with convulsive seizure or complex partial seizure were associated with autonomic symptom. (5) The etiology in 36 out of 51 cases (70.6%) remained unknown.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)