Episodic epileptic verbal auditory agnosia in Landau Kleffner syndrome treated with combination diazepam and corticosteroids.

Abstract

We report 2 pediatric patients who presented initially with seizures followed by subacute language regression characterized by a verbal auditory agnosia. These previously normal children had no evidence of expressive aphasia during their symptomatic periods. Further, in both cases, auditory agnosia was associated with sleep-activated electroencephalographic (EEG) epileptiform activity, consistent with Landau-Kleffner syndrome. However, both cases are unique since the episodic auditory agnosia and sleep-activated EEG epileptiform activity rapidly responded to combination therapy with pulse benzodiazepine and corticosteroids. Further, in each case, recurrences were characterized by similar symptoms, EEG findings, and beneficial responses to the pulse benzodiazepine and corticosteroid therapy. These observations suggest that pulse combination high-dose corticosteroid and benzodiazepine therapy may be especially effective in Landau-Kleffner syndrome.

• Authors: Orrin Devinsky, Rina Goldberg, Daniel Miles, Aviva Bojko, James Riviello Jr
• Journal: Journal of child neurology (J Child Neurol) Vol. 29 Issue 10 Pg. 1291-8 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 1708-8283 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24453158 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2014.

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Anticonvulsants
• Diazepam

Topics

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (therapeutic use)
• Agnosia (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Brain (drug effects, physiopathology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Diazepam (therapeutic use)
• Electroencephalography
• Epilepsy (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Landau-Kleffner Syndrome (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Male
• Sleep (physiology)