BookmarkTell someone about BANZELPrint this page

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic (meaning it lasts for a long time) condition that is defined by seizures.1 LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy.2

As a parent or caregiver of someone who has seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), your first reaction is likely a need for information. You may need answers to questions like "What is LGS?" You might want to prepare yourself with enough knowledge so that you can ask the right questions when considering treatment options.

What is Lennox-Gastaut syndrome?

LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy.2 It occurs more often in boys than girls, and usually develops before the child is 7 years old. It accounts for 1%-4% of all childhood epilepsy cases.3

LGS can be caused in several ways, including problems with brain formation or brain injury. Although it has many possible causes, in 30-35% of cases no cause can be found.4

Characteristics of LGS

LGS can be difficult to diagnose. Healthcare providers and caregivers may not recognize LGS readily. It is often identified by the following:

  • Experiencing several seizure types and sometimes many seizures in a day2,5
  • Delayed intellectual development5
  • A distinct brain wave pattern on an electroencephalogram (EEG)
    An EEG is a safe, painless test for diagnosing epilepsy. The EEG records electrical activity in the brain. Small, metal disks are attached to the scalp and connected by wires to the EEG machine. The machine records brain activity as a series of lines, each related to a different part of the brain.5

Challenges of treating LGS

No two LGS cases have the same prognosis. However, many cases share the same challenges. LGS usually persists through childhood and adolescence into adulthood. As patients reach adulthood, their seizure types may evolve, but freedom from seizures and normal development are very unusual.4

While the seizures associated with LGS are difficult to control, there are treatment options that may help.2 Most children and adults who have LGS are given multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to control seizures. The goal of this therapy is to balance optimum seizure control with minimal side effects.2 Different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have different side effects. Taking multiple medications can result in both stronger side effects and different side effects.6 Also, children who show improvement initially from one medication may become tolerant to a drug and resist its effects.4

It is always important to let your healthcare provider know all of the drugs (including vitamins) your loved one is taking. It is also important to understand the different types of seizures associated with LGS. By noting the type of seizures, when they happen, and how often, you can give doctors information that may help improve the treatment plan.7

NEXT: Seizures

1 Benbadis SR. Epileptic seizures and syndromes. Neurol Clin. 2001;19(2):251-270.
2 Epilepsy syndromes. Epilepsy Foundation Web site. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/syndromes/lg.cfm. Accessed March 28, 2011.
3 Crumrine PK. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. J Child Neurol. 2002;17(suppl 1):S70-75.
4 NINDS Lennox-Gastaut information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders Web site. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lennoxgastautsyndrome/lennoxgastautsyndrome.htm. Updated June 15, 2010. Accessed March 28, 2011.
5 Wheless J. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: characteristics and clinical manifestations. Epilepsy.com. http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/epilepsy_LGS/characteristics. August 7, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2011.
6 Bourgeois BFD, Gilliam F. Adjunctive and combination therapy. In: Engel J Jr, Pedley TA, eds. Epilepsy: A Comprehensive Textbook. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2008: 1321-1325.
7 Phillips L. Dear seizure diary: how and why to record your epileptic seizures. Neurology Now. November/December 2009;5(6):35-36.