News – Beate Jost Presents Research Findings at EPNS 2025
Why Childhood Absence Epilepsy Is Not Always a Benign Epilepsy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in Flanders
At the European Paediatric Neurology Society Congress 2025 (July 8–12) in Munich, medical student Beate Jost had the opportunity to present the results of a retrospective study conducted in Flanders. Beate is affiliated with the Leuven Childhood Epilepsy Center as a student assistant and used data from the Flemish Childhood Epilepsy Registry to examine the clinical outcomes of children with absence epilepsy.
Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) is generally considered a well-treatable form of epilepsy with few long-term consequences. However, a new study conducted across four university hospitals in Flanders shows that this condition is more often associated with learning difficulties and developmental disorders than previously thought.
What Was Studied
Researchers collected data from the Flemish EpiCARE registry, managed by KU Leuven. They looked at children diagnosed with CAE up to May 1, 2024, in the university hospitals of Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, and Leuven. The study examined factors such as the age at epilepsy onset, response to prescribed medication, and school performance and overall development.
Key Findings
Of the 2,014 children in the registry, 109 (5.4%) were diagnosed with CAE. On average, epilepsy began at 5.2 years of age. Despite guideline-based treatment, 28% of children did not achieve complete seizure freedom. Children who did become seizure-free tried an average of 2.4 different medications, while those who did not required an average of 3.7 medications. Valproate was the most commonly prescribed drug.
Almost half (43%) of the children who underwent formal IQ testing had an intellectual disability (IQ < 80). Additionally, 15% had learning difficulties, and 40% required special education with extra support. Children receiving support were slightly less likely to achieve seizure freedom (63%) compared to those in regular education without support (75%), though this difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, 15% of children were diagnosed with an additional psychiatric condition, such as autism or ADHD.
Why This Matters
Although CAE is often considered a “benign” form of epilepsy, this study shows that many children face additional challenges, particularly in learning and development. The researchers therefore emphasize the importance of regular psychological and psychiatric screening to detect and address problems early.
Points to Consider
The study was conducted in specialized centers, which may introduce some bias in the results. In addition, not all data were available for every child. Nevertheless, this research provides valuable insights into the real-world impact of CAE in Flanders and highlights the need for further studies.
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