CĂN NGUYÊN CỦA ĐỘNG KINH KHỞI PHÁT TRƯỚC 1 TUỔI VÀ MỐI LIÊN QUAN GIỮA CĂN NGUYÊN VỚI TUỔI KHỞI PHÁT

Abstract

Objective: To investigate selected etiologies in children with epilepsy onset before 1 year of age and to analyze the association between etiology and age-at-onset groups. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 112 children under 3 years of age treated at the Neurology Center, National Children’s Hospital. Patients were categorized into three groups according to age at first seizure: neonatal group (0-28 days), 29 days - 6 months group, and 7 months - 11 months group. Variables analyzed included seizure frequency, brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, genetic mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, and metabolic disorders. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Daily seizures were most frequent in the neonatal-onset group (58.8%), with a statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.02). The rate of abnormal brain MRI findings differed significantly according to age at onset (p = 0.011), highest in the 7 months-11 months onset group (95.1%). Pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants were identified in 48.1% of tested cases. Chromosomal abnormalities and metabolic disorders were detected in a proportion of patients; however, no statistically significant differences were observed among onset-age groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Age at epilepsy onset within the first year of life is associated with seizure severity and the prevalence of structural brain abnormalities. Structural etiologies predominate in early-onset epilepsy. Early neuroimaging and genetic evaluation play a crucial role in etiological diagnosis and therapeutic orientation.