Forthcoming Issue Vol. 20 No. 1 Landau-Kleffner syndrome: A case of a rare epileptic syndrome
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Abstract
Background: Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a rare epileptic encephalopathy that presents in children aged 3-8 years with previous normal development. It is characterized by aphasia and electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities mainly in temporoparietal areas; hence it is sometimes referred to as acquired aphasia with epilepsy. The exact etiology of LKS is not known. Patients who showed clinical improvements following a course of steroids lead to a suggestion that autoimmune processes may in part account to etiology of LKS.
Case presentation: We report a case of a 5-year-old boy with seizures and regression of speech. He had a normal and uneventful birth history and normal development course before the age of 5 years. He presented for admission to the hospital at the age of 5-years with unprovoked tonic-clonic convulsions, which were followed by marked regression in speech. EEG showed brain electrical patterns of abnormal electrical discharges in the temporoparietal area of language control, in keeping with LKS. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were normal. Convulsins were controlled and he was then discharged for follow up as outpatient.
Conclusions: Children with LKS may show uncommon electroclinical presentation hence more awareness and consideration of the disease is needed in the evaluation of children with language skills abnormalities snd/or convulsive disorders during the age-group 3-9 years. More studies should be conducted to clearly describe its prevalence, clinical heterogeneity and more successful treatment modalities.
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