Objectives: Epilepsy is an index of the severity of cerebral palsy (CP) and brain damage is usually
more severe when epilepsy occurs (Aicardi 1994). The aims of the study were to describe
the prevalence and characteristics of epilepsy in a population of patients with CP
in a university referral center as well as to determine changing panorama of cerebral
palsy during 9 years period (1996–2004).
Methods: 264 children with cerebral palsy (87 girls, 177 boys, mean age 6.8 years) were included.
The CP forms, age of first epileptic seizure onset, EEG, magnetic resonance imaging/computed
tomography findings, AE therapy and outcome were analysed. The results of group I
(1996–2000, 131 pts) and group II (2001–2004, 133 pts) were compared.
Results: Epilepsy was present in 109 (41%) of all children with CP; in 68 (52%) of group I
and 41 (30%) of group II. Age at onset of epilepsy varied with type of CP: children
with tetraplegic CP tended to have an earlier onset of epilepsy (1.4 years) than children
with other CP types. First seizures occurred during the first year of life predominantly
in group I than in group II (54% and 24%, respectively).
Conclusion: The functional status of children with cerebral palsy depends on the severity and
the presence of epilepsy (Wong 2004). From this point of view is possible to interpretate
the lower frequency of epilepsy in group II as a positive impact of higher quality
of perinatal care. Supported by VZ MZO 00064203–6504
