Epilepsy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epilepsy, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, drugs, information.

Efficacy of very high dose steroid treatment in a case of Landau-Kleffner syndrome.

Gallagher S, Weiss S, Oram Cardy J, Humphries T, Harman KE, Menascu S

Division of Neurology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada. sgallagher@ireland.com

Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is an acquired childhood aphasia associated with paroxysmal bitemporal electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities and, sometimes, clinical seizures. We report the case of a female aged 5 years 6 months who presented clinically with apparent hearing loss, deterioration in speech, and seizure activity over 12 days. The female had previous detailed speech/language assessments at 3 to 4 years of age due to articulation delay. LKS was diagnosed on EEG with bitemporal spike and wave activity during sleep. The patient was treated with high dose prednisolone 3mg/kg/day, intensive speech/language therapy, and followed a modified educational program. We recorded a marked regression in receptive and expressive language skills, as well as her speech, language, and cognitive profiles before and during treatment with prednisolone, during an 18-month follow-up period. The patient demonstrated an excellent clinical response highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to management of LKS.

Published 14 August 2006 in Dev Med Child Neurol, 48(9): 766-9.
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