Correlation Between Cognitive Dysfunction And Electroclinical Characteristics In Children With BECT

Objective(s): To investigate the correlation between cognitive function and clinical factors and electroencephalogram epileptiform discharge in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spike(BECT),providing evidences for improving cognitive function in children with BECT.Methods: A total of 42 children with BECT who had undergone long-term video electroencephalography monitoring from January 2019 to July 2022 were collected and45 healthy children matched in age,gender and education level were selected as the control group.Chinese Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children(C-WISC)test was conducted in both groups.The intelligence quotient of the two groups was compared,and the relationship between clinical factors and electroencephalography epileptic discharge and Full Intelligence Quotient(FIQ),Verbal Intelligence Quotient(VIQ)and Performance Intelligence Quotient(PIQ)of BECT children were analyzed.Results:1.A total of 42 children with classic BECT were included,including 18 males and 24 females,with an average age of(9.4±2.0)years and an average age of onset of(7.4±2.6)years.The control group consisted of 45 healthy children,including 28 males and 17 females,with an average age of(9.7±2.2)years.2.The average FIQ in the BECT group and control group was within the normal range,but FIQ,VIQ,scores of “classification” and “vocabulary” in VIQ sub-items,as well as “wood block map” in PIQ sub-items in BECT group were lower compared with the control group(P<0.05).3.The age of onset of children with BECT was positively correlated with FIQ (r=0.39),VIQ(r=0.57)and scores of “knowledge”(r= 0.49),“classification”(r=0.35),“vocabulary”(rs= 0.62),“comprehension”(r= 0.43)and “digit span”(r= 0.37)in VIQ sub-items.The course of disease was negatively correlated with scores of “knowledge”(rs=-0.31)in VIQ sub-items(P<0.05).4.The scores of FIQ and VIQ in the <10-year-old group were significantly lower than those in the ≥10-year-old group(t =-2.38、-2.98,P<0.05).The <10-year-old group had a lower scores on “knowledge” and “vocabulary” in VIQ sub-items compared with the group of onset age ≥10-year-old(P<0.05).5.There was a statistically significant difference in VIQ among different epileptiform discharge side groups(F=3.77,P<0.05),and the score of bilateral cerebral hemispheres discharge group was lower.There were statistically significant differences in the scores of “knowledge” and “digit span” in VIQ sub-items among left group,right group and bilateral group(P<0.05).Conclusion(s):1.The average intelligence level of children with BECT is in the normal range,but there is an imbalance in their intelligence structure,mainly with impaired language function.2.The onset age and course of disease are significantly related to IQ.Early onset age,bilateral cerebral hemispheres epileptiform discharges and long course of disease are the main factors that affect the language function and lead to the decline of cognitive function of children with BECT.