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Self-limited focal epilepsies of childhood syndromes (SeLFEs)—an overview

Selbstlimitierende fokale Epilepsien im Kindesalter (SeLFEs) – eine Übersicht

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Abstract

Self-limited focal epilepsies of childhood syndromes (SeLFEs) comprise a group of disorders historically also widely known as “idiopathic focal epilepsies.” The most common subtype is self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS) historically called “rolandic epilepsy,” a term still in use in daily clinical practice. In the present article, we provide a short overview of the current International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification scheme of these syndromes comprising self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, self-limited epilepsy with autonomic seizures, childhood occipital visual epilepsy, and photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy and we discuss aspects of diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and prognosis.

Zusammenfassung

Selbstlimitierende fokale Epilepsien im Kindesalter (SeLFEs) umfassen eine Gruppe von Erkrankungen, die historisch auch als „idiopathische fokale Epilepsien“ bekannt sind. Der häufigste Subtyp ist die selbstlimitierte Epilepsie mit zentrotemporalen Spikes (SeLECTS), die historisch und in der täglichen klinischen Praxis bis heute auch als „Rolando-Epilepsie“ bezeichnet wird. Im vorliegenden Artikel wird von den Autoren ein Überblick über das aktuelle Klassifikationsschema der International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in Bezug auf diese Syndrome gegeben, und Aspekte der diagnostischen Aufarbeitung, Therapie und Prognose werden erörtert.

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The authors are willing to share information as needed.

Abbreviations

ASM:

Antiseizure medication

COVE:

Childhood occipital visual epilepsy

CSWS:

Continuous spike and waves during sleep

DEE:

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy

IED:

Interictal epileptic discharge

ILAE:

International League Against Epilepsy

POLE:

Photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy

SeLEAS:

Self-limited epilepsy with autonomic features

SeLECTS:

Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes

SeLFEs:

Self-limited focal epilepsies of childhood syndromes

SWAS:

Spike-and-wave activation in sleep

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Comprehensive Epilepsy Center for children, adolescents and adults, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University, Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337, Munich, Germany

    Ingo Borggraefe MD FAES

  2. Department of Child Neurology, Developmental Pediatrics and Epileptology, University Hospital Giessen/Marburg, Giessen, Germany

    Bernd Axel Neubauer

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  1. Ingo Borggraefe MD FAES
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Correspondence to Ingo Borggraefe MD FAES.

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I. Borggraefe and B.A. Neubauer declare that they have no competing interests.

For this article no studies with human participants or animals were performed by any of the authors. All studies mentioned were in accordance with the ethical standards indicated in each case.

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Borggraefe, I., Neubauer, B.A. Self-limited focal epilepsies of childhood syndromes (SeLFEs)—an overview. Clin Epileptol 37, 3–8 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10309-023-00649-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10309-023-00649-2

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