Electroencephalogram features in children with congenital hyperinsulinism treated according to the international protocol in Russian Federation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare life-threatening disease characterised by persistent hypoglycaemia as a result of inappropriate insulin secretion, which can lead to irreversible neurological defects in infants.AIM: To evaluate neurophysiological characteristics of central nervous system in children with congenital hyperinsulinism treated according to the international protocol in Russian Federation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our retrospective, prospective cohort study included 73 patients who received treatment for CHI according to the current international protocol at different departments of the Almazov National Medical Research Centre from 2017 to 2022. All patients underwent a comprehensive examination, including electroencephalography (EEG).RESULTS: Among 73 patients with CHI, 35% (23) had focal form of the disease, 65% had non-focal form (49% (39) — diffuse form, 16% (11) — atypical form). All patients with focal form of CHI had a recovery as an outcome.Analysing the EEG data we found that paroxysmal activity was recorded in 23 patients (32%), 50 patients did not have paroxysmal activity (68%). Diffuse changes were observed in 47 patients (64%), whereas 26 patients (36%) were absent of it. By constructing Kaplan-Meier curves we found that the alpha rhythm is formed significantly (p=0.026) earlier in patients with a focal form of CHI.CONCLUSION: CHI patients treated according to the international guidelines in Russian Federation show rather positive neurological outcome. We established that alpha rhythm earliest formation is associated with focal form of CHI.