TREATMENT OF BENIGN PARTIAL EPILEPSIES OF CHILDHOOD, INCLUDING ATYPICAL FARMS

In a retrospective study the results of therapy in 60 children with so -called benign partial epilepsies are reported. It has been shown that the assessment of the therapeutic effect has to include the EEG, espe cially in epilepsies with atypical course. Carbamazepine has no effect on the EEG, in epilepsies with atypical course (atypical benign parti al epilepsy, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, epilepsy with continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep [CSWS]) carbamazepine usually has no effe ct either on the seizures or on the EEG, on the contrary, in some case s both may even get worse. In our experience, the drug of choice in al l types of benign childhood epilepsy is sulthiame, if necessary in com bination with clobazam. Other drugs previously administered, including carbamazepine, should be dropped quickly. if the treatment with sulth iame or sulthiame/clobazam in children with atypical course is not eff ective, ACTH-therapy should be considered as soon as possible. These r esults should be confirmed in a prospective randomized study.