P165 – 2601: Breath-holding spells may be associated with maturational delay in myelination of brain stem

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate possible contribution of maturational delay of brainstem in the etiology of breath holding spells in children, using brainstem auditory evoked potentials. Methods The study group included children with breath-holding spells. The control group was consisted of healthy, age and sex matched children. Age, gender, type and frequency of spell, hemoglobin, and ferritin levels in study group and brainstem auditory evoked potentials results in both groups were recorded. Study group was statistically compared with control group for brainstem auditory evoked potentials. Results Thirty-two patients (16 boys and 16 girls), aged 4 to 60 months, and 21 healthy children (11 boys and 10 girls), aged 8 to 60 months were included in the study. The mean ages of study and control groups were 26.3±14.6 and 28.9±13.9 months, respectively. The III-V and I-V interpeak latencies were significantly prolonged in the study group compared to control group (2.07±0.2 msn; 1.92±0.13 msn and 4.00±0.27 msn; 3.83±0.19 msn, p=0.009, p=0.03 respectively). At the same time, III-V and I-V interpeak latencies of patients without anemia in the study group compared to control group were significantly prolonged (2.09±0.24 msn; 1.92±0.13 msn and 4.04±0.28 msn; 3.83±0.19 msn, p=0.007, p=0.01 respectively). But, there were no significant difference between patients with anemia in the study group and control group for III-V and I-V interpeak latencies (p=0.17, p=0.69, respectively). Conclusion Our results suggest that maturational delay in brainstem may have a role in the etiology of breath-holding spells in children.