Study Of Intelligence Quotient And Affecting Factors On The Children With GTCS In A Mountain Area Of The South Of An Hui Province

Objective:To study the intelligence quotient(IQ) profile of the children with familial generalized tonic-clonic seizure and their siblings,and to explore the affecting factors on IQ of the children with epilepsy further.Thus we can determine the methods of treat and administration for these children better,promote the improvement of the cognitive function of the children and elevate whole quality of life of them.At the same time,the study established foundation for further experiment on how to improve IQ of the children with epilepsy.Object and methods:We selected all 28 children with GTCS who were aged 9-16 years in 20 epilepsy families in a mountain area of the south of An Hui Province,all available healthy siblings of the children included in the epilepsy group,did not have epilepsy,and were nearest in age to the child with epilepsy(control group 1),and thirty children aged 9-16 years who had lived in the same village(control group 2) entered into our study.We compared the IQ of the three groups of children with Chinese modification of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children,and we recorded all data on influencing IQ development of children and seizures of children with epilepsy at the same time.The data were input SPSS12.0 and analyzed.For the purpose of correlation and regression analysis,quantitative data were entered directly,and qualitative data on history of status epilepticus,regularity of therapy,and AED were converted into quantitative data.P＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The IQ of 47%of the children with GTCS lower than average level(IQ＜90), which is compared with control group1(4%lower than 90) and control group2(no one lower than 90),the difference is significant(P＜0.01).Only 53%of the children with GTCS had an average(between 90 and 109) or above average(＞109) IQ as compared with 96%of the siblings and 100%of the controls(P＜0.001).The mean Full Scale IQ of children with GTCS(85.64±20.57) was～18 points lower than that control group 1 (103.39±11.17)and～21 lower points lower than that the control group 2 (106.17±11.67).The difference between children with GTCS and the two control groups were significant for almost all the subtest quotients except completion of drawing and picture arrangement.We didn't note any significant differences between the control group 1 and the control group 2 on the IQ and the subtest quotients.IQ scores of children with GTCS showed significant linear correlation with father's education (r=0.453,P＜0.001),age at onset of epilepsy(r=0.506,P＜0.001),duration of seizure disorder(r=-0.533,P＜0.001),status epilepticus(r=-0.732,P＜0.001),total number of seizures(r=-0.761,P＜0.001) and seizure frequency(r=-0.708,P＜0.001).(5) Paternal education and duration of seizure disorder are the main factors affecting IQ of the children with GTCS by the multiple stepwise regression analysis.Conclusions:1.the IQ scores and subtest quotients of the children with GTCS with no apparent neurological deficit or disability were lower significantly than general children population.2 The IQ level of the siblings of the children with GTCS is similar to general children population.3.Epilepsy-related variables affecting IQ scores of the children with GTCS are duration of seizure disorder,status epilepticus,age at onset of epilepsy,total number of seizures, seizure frequency.Duration of seizure disorder is the most important epilepsy-related variable of them.4.We also found that educated level of fathers of the children with GTCS is an important factor affecting the IQ scores of the children with epilepsy from the study.5.The IQ of a part of children with GTCS may reach and even superior to average level through comprehensive management and intervention.