When epilepsy interferes with word comprehension: findings in Landau-Kleffner syndrome

J Child Neurol. 2008 Jan;23(1):97-101. doi: 10.1177/0883073807308701.

Abstract

Landau-Kleffner syndrome is characterized by a regression in receptive language. The factors that affect the clinical expression of this syndrome remain unclear. This study presents neuroimaging findings in 2 patients showing different clinical evolutions. Linguistic regression persisted in 1 patient and evolved positively in the other. In patient A (with severe linguistic regression) there was an overlap between areas engaged during word recognition and those involved in generating the epileptiform activity; in patient B (with better linguistic evolution), receptive language was predominantly represented in the right hemisphere (unaffected). Patient A underwent multiple subpial transections. The 2-year follow-up indicated linguistic improvement, absence of epileptiform activity, and activation of the left temporal cortex during word comprehension. These results suggest that the resolution of the linguistic deficit in Landau-Kleffner syndrome may be modulated by the language-specific cortex freed from interfering epileptiform activity or by reorganization of the receptive language cortex triggered by the epileptic activity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
  • Adolescent
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / diagnosis
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / etiology
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / physiopathology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Epilepsy / complications*
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Landau-Kleffner Syndrome / complications*
  • Landau-Kleffner Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Language Development Disorders / diagnosis
  • Language Development Disorders / etiology*
  • Language Development Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Magnetoencephalography
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Recovery of Function / physiology
  • Regression, Psychology
  • Speech Perception / physiology
  • Temporal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology
  • Verbal Behavior / physiology