Biomaterial Database

Valproic acid treatment of epilepsy in autistic twins. 1997

J A Childs, and J L Blair

DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, 19899, USA.

Case histories of autistic twins with absence seizures are presented. The boys had autistic features prior to the onset of seizures during their second year of life. By age 3 years, the twins were significantly delayed in the areas of socialization, communications and impulse control. Typical autistic features were pronounced, including perseverative, nonpurposeful and self-stimulatory behaviors; lack of symbolic play; poor eye contact; echolalic and noncommunicative speech; and unresponsiveness to disciplinary efforts. The absence seizures, although first observed by the parents early in the twins' second year, were not diagnosed until age 3 years 1 month. The seizures consisted of 50-60 staring spells per day. Both boys responded to valproic acid treatment with control of their seizures and with a dramatically accelerated rate of acquisition of both language and social skills. A possible causal relationship between autism and absence seizures in these children is explored.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D002658	Developmental Disabilities	Disorders in which there is a delay in development based on that expected for a given age level or stage of development. These impairments or disabilities originate before age 18, may be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitute a substantial impairment. Biological and nonbiological factors are involved in these disorders. (From American Psychiatric Glossary, 6th ed)	Child Development Deviations,Child Development Disorders,Child Development Disorders, Specific,Developmental Delay Disorders,Disabilities, Developmental,Development Disorders, Child,Child Development Deviation,Child Development Disorder,Development Deviation, Child,Development Deviations, Child,Development Disorder, Child,Developmental Delay Disorder,Developmental Disability,Deviation, Child Development,Disability, Developmental
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004200	Diseases in Twins	Disorders affecting TWINS, one or both, at any age.	Diseases in Twin,Twin, Diseases in,Twins, Diseases in,in Twin, Diseases,in Twins, Diseases
D004832	Epilepsy, Absence	A seizure disorder usually occurring in childhood characterized by rhythmic electrical brain discharges of generalized onset. Clinical features include a sudden cessation of ongoing activity usually without loss of postural tone. Rhythmic blinking of the eyelids or lip smacking frequently accompanies the SEIZURES. The usual duration is 5-10 seconds, and multiple episodes may occur daily. Juvenile absence epilepsy is characterized by the juvenile onset of absence seizures and an increased incidence of myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p736)	Akinetic Petit Mal,Epilepsy, Minor,Petit Mal Epilepsy,Pyknolepsy,Absence Seizure Disorder,Childhood Absence Epilepsy,Epilepsy Juvenile Absence,Epilepsy, Absence, Atypical,Epilepsy, Petit Mal,Juvenile Absence Epilepsy,Pykno-Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder, Absence,Absence Epilepsy,Absence Epilepsy, Childhood,Absence Epilepsy, Juvenile,Absence Seizure Disorders,Epilepsy, Childhood Absence,Epilepsy, Juvenile Absence,Minor Epilepsy,Petit Mal, Akinetic,Pykno Epilepsy,Pyknolepsies,Seizure Disorders, Absence
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000927	Anticonvulsants	Drugs used to prevent SEIZURES or reduce their severity.	Anticonvulsant,Anticonvulsant Drug,Anticonvulsive Agent,Anticonvulsive Drug,Antiepileptic,Antiepileptic Agent,Antiepileptic Agents,Antiepileptic Drug,Anticonvulsant Drugs,Anticonvulsive Agents,Anticonvulsive Drugs,Antiepileptic Drugs,Antiepileptics,Agent, Anticonvulsive,Agent, Antiepileptic,Agents, Anticonvulsive,Agents, Antiepileptic,Drug, Anticonvulsant,Drug, Anticonvulsive,Drug, Antiepileptic,Drugs, Anticonvulsant,Drugs, Anticonvulsive,Drugs, Antiepileptic
D001321	Autistic Disorder	A disorder beginning in childhood. It is marked by the presence of markedly abnormal or impaired development in social interaction and communication and a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interest. Manifestations of the disorder vary greatly depending on the developmental level and chronological age of the individual. (DSM-V)	Autism, Infantile,Kanner's Syndrome,Autism,Autism, Early Infantile,Disorder, Autistic,Disorders, Autistic,Early Infantile Autism,Infantile Autism,Infantile Autism, Early,Kanner Syndrome,Kanners Syndrome
D014430	Twins, Monozygotic	Two off-spring from the same PREGNANCY. They are from a single fertilized OVUM that split into two EMBRYOS. Such twins are usually genetically identical and of the same sex.	Twins, Identical,Identical Twin,Identical Twins,Monozygotic Twin,Monozygotic Twins,Twin, Identical,Twin, Monozygotic