Abstract Details

Title Impact of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis on Epilepsy in Patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Topic Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG)

Presentation(s) P1 - Poster Session 1 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 6-010

Objective Assess the impact of a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the severity and features of epilepsy among patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).

Background Patients with TSC have a high prevalence of comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy. However, little is known about how these interconnected cognitive and neurological disorders affect one another and patient outcomes, particularly among adult populations. The purpose of this study is to determine if ASD affects seizure severity, phenotypes, and treatment in adult patients with TSC and epilepsy.

Design/Methods A retrospective patient chart review was performed on adult patients with TSC and epilepsy seen at the University of Pennsylvania between 2010 and 2018. Patients with and without ASD were compared using parameters including seizure frequency, seizure semiology, number of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), use of AEDs with known mood stabilizing effects, and number of tubers were individually compared using chi-squared tests.

Results We identified 55 patients meeting inclusion criteria, of whom 25 had a diagnosis of ASD. In adult TSC patients with comorbid epilepsy, ASD correlated with higher seizure frequency, more frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and with the use of greater numbers of AEDs.

Conclusions The presence of ASD is correlated with epilepsy severity in adult patients. These results may suggest a role of severe epilepsy in the development of ASD in patients with TSC, which would suggest a role for earlier and more aggressive epilepsy treatment. Longitudinal studies beginning in childhood would be needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Authors/Disclosures
PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Michael Gelfand, MD, PhD (University of Pennsylvania)	Dr. Gelfand has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Consultant for Aquestive. Dr. Gelfand has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Livanova. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from Aquestive. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from Xenon. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from Cerevel. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from UNEEG. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from Livanova. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from UCB. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from SK Pharma. The institution of Dr. Gelfand has received research support from Otsuka.

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