Objective: Description of the EEG findings between autistic patients with evidence of epilepsy (ASD-Epil) versus autistic patients who present paroxysmal symptoms of behavioral and sleep disorders (ASD-Sus-Epil) in a reference population of 23,909 children under 15 y.o. health department. Patients and interventions: Between January 2020 and December 2022, 171 new patients were received with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD. The ASD-Epil 33 had an EEG. In 138 cases, there was no evidence of epileptic seizures. Of these, 27 were ASD-Sus-Epil, and also had a first EEG done. Association tests were carried out between the variables studied. Results: In 32 out of 33 ASD-Epil cases a pathological EEG was found (97%) while in 18 (66.7%) cases of ASD-Sus-Epil cases presented pathological EEG (Chi-square=7.75; p=0.005). (Sensitivity=97%; Specificity=33%; Positive predictive value=64%; Negative predictive value=90%). In 62.5% of ASD-Epil, the EEGs were focal while they were only in 50% of ASD-Sus-Epil without significance. A multifocal pattern was present in 6 patients in the ASD-Sus-Epil group. Focal activity did not present differences between hemispheres or between wakefulness and sleep. There was a global predominance of alterations in both temporal lobes in 107 (78.7%) compared to 29 (21.3%) for the rest of the lobes. Conclusions: 1) The EEG study in ASD patients is highly sensitive, although not very specific if non-epileptic paroxysmal disorders are studied together. 2) In more than half of the ASD-Sus-Epil patients, epileptiform abnormalities were detected in the EEG. 3) No significant differences appeared in the types of abnormal records obtained between groups.

Samantha Jane Turner
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF SAN JUAN DE ALICANTE
Spain

Patricia Andreo-Lillo
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF SAN JUAN DE ALICANTE
Spain

Lorena Pastor-Ferrándiz
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF SAN JUAN DE ALICANTE
Spain

Teresa Gavilá-Lattur
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF SAN JUAN DE ALICANTE
Spain

Magdalena García-Navarro
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF SAN JUAN DE ALICANTE
Spain

Francisco Carratalá-Marco
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF SAN JUAN DE ALICANTE
Spain