Rolandic Epilepsy Seizure

Chaitanya Amrutkar; Rosario Riel-Romero

Rolandic Epilepsy Seizure

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Continuing Education Activity

Benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE), also called benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) or benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECCT) is the most common epilepsy syndrome in children. As the name states, these seizures originate in the rolandic area of the brain. This activity illustrates the evaluation and treatment of rolandic epilepsy seizure and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in managing patients with this condition.

Objectives:

Outline the epidemiology of benign rolandic epilepsy.
Explain the role of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in confirming the diagnosis of benign rolandic epilepsy.
Describe the use of a single anti-epileptic drug in the short-term treatment of benign rolandic epilepsy.
Summarize the importance of collaboration and communication among the interprofessional team members to counsel the patient on the correct use of the anti-epileptic drugs along with the monitoring for side effects to improve outcomes for those affected by benign rolandic epilepsy.

Introduction

Benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE), also called benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) or benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECCT) is the most common epilepsy syndrome in children.[1] Most of the affected children usually outgrow this condition by puberty, hence the term "benign."[2][3] The seizures originate in the Rolandic area of the brain (situated around the central sulcus of the brain, also called as centrotemporal area, located around the Rolandic fissure). See Figure 1.

Etiology

Benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) is classified as a genetic disorder as approximately 25% of patients have a family history of either febrile seizures or epilepsy.[4] Mode of transmission is thought to be autosomal dominant. However, all studies support the role of genetics.[3][5][6] Although no specific gene has been identified, chromosome 11 (11p13) and chromosome 15 (15q14) are thought to be involved.[5][7] Mutations in KCNQ2,[8] ELP4,[9] and GRIN2A[10] genes have been found in families with BRE.

Epidemiology

Benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) can start anywhere between the ages of 1 to 14 years. It peaks around 7 to 10 years when the majority of the cases occur. BRE occurs more often in boys than in girls with a 1.5 to 1 predominance. The incidence of BRE is 10 to 20 per 100,000 children up to age 15 years. BRE makes up about 15% of all epilepsy cases in children[11][12][13][14] which makes it the most common epilepsy syndrome of childhood. Adults are not affected.

History and Physical

Benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) affects children until adolescence and usually occur at night or on awakening (greater than 70%).[15] Seizures are infrequent, partial (or focal) as they originate from the Rolandic area (which controls face and oropharynx) with no loss of consciousness.[15][16] Symptoms are generally unilateral and include facial twitching and stiffness, numbness/tingling of the face and throat (tongue, lips, gums, the inner side of the cheek, tooth) that leads to difficulty speaking with gurgling noises, speech arrest, drooling, and hypersalivation.[15][17][18][19] Seizures usually last only 2 to 3 minutes. Facial twitching can spread to the ipsilateral arm and leg. Seizures can spread and occasionally involve both sides (become generalized) and have other manifestations such as generalized shaking, stiffening, bowel or bladder incontinence, loss of consciousness, and a post-ictal state. Since most of the seizures are partial and occur at night, they go unnoticed until a full-blown generalized seizure occurs.[15] Status epilepticus and sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) are rare.[20] BRE can have associated headaches or migraines as well as behavioral and learning difficulties[21][22][23][24] which are more common when the child is having seizures, and there are electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities. However, they can improve as the child grows out of the seizures (usually by the age of 15), EEG normalizes, and typically there are no developmental problems seen.[2]

Evaluation

As with other epilepsy syndromes, a diagnosis of benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) is based on history and confirmed with characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG) findings.[15] EEG classically shows slow, biphasic (negative discharges in the centrotemporal area and positive discharges in the frontal area), high-voltage, centrotemporal sharp spikes which are often followed by a slow wave. These sharp spikes occur in repetitive bursts, are usually unilateral (corresponding to the focal nature of the seizures) but sometimes can be bilateral. EEG should always include awake and sleep recording. Sleep recording is very important as the spikes sometimes can be seen only during sleep. Non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep recording offers the highest value as it accentuates the epileptiform activity.[25] The background EEG activity, as well as sleep architecture on a polysomnogram, otherwise remains normal. Neurological and developmental assessment is generally normal. Imaging studies including an MRI brain with and without contrast can be considered (to rule out a structural lesion) but are often unnecessary. Diagnosis can be established from history and characteristic EEG findings.[15] Further workup with imaging, laboratory studies may be indicated if history (atypical features) and EEG is nonconclusive. Although the centrotemporal spikes on EEG are characteristic for BRE, they can rarely be seen in asymptomatic children (as an incidental finding) or other epilepsy syndromes.[3]

Treatment / Management

As the name suggests, benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) is generally a benign condition, seizures almost always resolve by adolescence, and are often not treated. This is especially true if the seizures are partial, infrequent, occur only at night, and the patient and family/parents are agreeable.[26] Treatment is considered if seizures are frequent, severe, happen during daytime, are generalized, associated with language and neurocognitive decline/changes, or learning disorder. The patient and family should decide whether or not to treat the seizures in consultation with their treating physician. If treatment is necessary, a single anti-epileptic drug (AED) is usually sufficient, and multiple AEDs are rarely required.[2] Many physicians lean toward giving only a nighttime dose of the medication. Given the focal nature of seizures, carbamazepine is frequently used as a first-line agent. Other drugs that have been used include oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, levetiracetam, valproate, phenytoin, lacosamide, and zonisamide.[27][28][29] Treatment is of short duration and can be discontinued after 1 to 2 years free of seizures. Electroencephalogram (EEG) findings (normal versus abnormal) can be helpful in the decision of tapering and eventually stopping the AEDs. It is possible that seizures can recur after stopping the AEDs. Patient and the family should be aware of the possibility of recurrence and should maintain vigilance.

Differential Diagnosis

Differential diagnoses include centrotemporal spikes without seizures, centrotemporal spikes with a cerebral lesion, temporal lobe epilepsy, Panayiotopoulos syndrome, and Landau-Kleffner syndrome.

Prognosis

The prognosis of benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) is excellent irrespective of treatment. Seizures occur for only 2 to 4 years and spontaneously resolve by the age of 15 to 16 years (in more than 95% of children).[30][26] Majority of the patients have less than 10 seizures, 10% to 20% having only one seizure in their lifetime.[13] A higher number of seizures and/or a prolonged period of seizure activity occurs in children with early seizure onset.[11] Early seizure onset is also known to cause cognitive, behavioral, and speech abnormalities which resolve by adolescence along with resolution of seizures.[22][31][32] BRE can potentially be an early presentation of other epileptic syndromes.[31]

Deterrence and Patient Education

As with any epilepsy syndrome, patient/family education is of paramount importance for a good outcome. Education plays a vital role when decisions are made about starting or stopping treatment. The patient and family should be educated about the possibility of status epilepticus as well as sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

An interprofessional approach to Rolandic seizures is recommended.

Rolandic epilepsy is a relatively common diagnosis but the condition is benign. Because of its diverse presentation, healthcare workers including nurses need to be aware of the possible signs and symptoms. By far, the majority of children require no treatment, and the disorder gradually disappears in 2 to 4 years. The few patients with recurrent seizures may require treatment with a single anti-epileptic drug. The pharmacist should educate the patient and family about the benign nature of the disorder. In addition, if drug treatment is undertaken, the family/patient must be educated about the need for compliance and watching for side effects. Patients should be informed that the drug should not be abruptly discontinued nor the dose changed without first speaking to the neurologist. The outcomes for most patients with rolandic epilepsy is excellent.

(Click Image to Enlarge)

Site of Rolandic seizures (central gyrus)
Image courtesy S Bhimji MD

Details

References

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