Exploring the Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy Using Latent Class Cluster Analysis

Epilepsy co-occurs frequently in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Understanding this co-occurrence requires a better understanding of the ASD-epilepsy phenotype (or phenotypes). To address this, we conducted latent class cluster analysis (LCCA) on an ASD dataset (N = 577) which included 64 individuals with epilepsy. We identified a 5-cluster solution with one cluster showing a high rate of epilepsy (29%), earlier age at first recognition, and high rates of repetitive object use and unusual sensory interests. We also conducted LCCA on an ASD-epilepsy subset from the overall dataset (N = 64) which yielded three clusters, the largest of which had impairments in language and motor development; the remaining clusters, while not as developmentally impaired were characterized by different levels of repetitive and sensory behaviors.

[1]  M. Weatherall,et al.  Distinct clinical phenotypes of airways disease defined by cluster analysis , 2009, European Respiratory Journal.

[2]  R. Canitano,et al.  Epilepsy, Electroencephalographic Abnormalities, and Regression in Children With Autism , 2005, Journal of child neurology.

[3]  R. Tuchman.  Autism and Epilepsy: What Has Regression Got to Do with It? , 2006, Epilepsy currents.

[4]  M. Cuccaro,et al.  Behavioral Comparisons in Autistic Individuals from Multiplex and Singleton Families , 2003, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[5]  Salimah H. Meghani,et al.  1842676957299765Latent class cluster analysis to understand heterogeneity in prostate cancer treatment utilities , 2009, BMC Medical Informatics Decis. Mak..

[6]  A. Parmeggiani,et al.  Epilepsy and EEG paroxysmal abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders , 2010, Brain and Development.

[7]  I. Pavord,et al.  Multi‐dimensional phenotyping: towards a new taxonomy for airway disease , 2005, Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

[8]  L. Eaves,et al.  Subtypes of autism by cluster analysis , 1994, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[9]  J. Vermunt,et al.  Latent class cluster analysis , 2002 .

[10]  F. Giannotti,et al.  An Investigation of Sleep Characteristics, EEG Abnormalities and Epilepsy in Developmentally Regressed and Non-regressed Children with Autism , 2008, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[11]  G. Baird,et al.  Regression, Developmental Trajectory and Associated Problems in Disorders in the Autism Spectrum: The SNAP Study , 2008, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[12]  S. Spence,et al.  The Role of Epilepsy and Epileptiform EEGs in Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2009, Pediatric Research.

[13]  M. Cuccaro,et al.  Autism and epilepsy: Historical perspective , 2010, Brain and Development.

[14]  M. Stevens,et al.  Subgroups of children with autism by cluster analysis: a longitudinal examination. , 2000, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[15]  J. Hagenaars,et al.  Applied Latent Class Analysis , 2003 .

[16]  F. Volkmar,et al.  Language regression in childhood. , 2001, Pediatric neurology.

[17]  Valerie W. Hu,et al.  Novel clustering of items from the Autism Diagnostic Interview‐Revised to define phenotypes within autism spectrum disorders , 2009, Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research.

[18]  J. Matson,et al.  Empirically derived subtypes of pervasive developmental disorders: A cluster analytic study , 1995, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[19]  Paula Krakowiak,et al.  Regression in autism: prevalence and associated factors in the CHARGE Study. , 2008, Ambulatory pediatrics : the official journal of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association.

[20]  R. Tuchman,et al.  Regression in pervasive developmental disorders: seizures and epileptiform electroencephalogram correlates. , 1997, Pediatrics.

[21]  C. Gillberg,et al.  Autism spectrum disorder in children with and without epilepsy: impact on social functioning and communication , 2009, Acta paediatrica.

[22]  S. Moshé,et al.  Convulsing toward the pathophysiology of autism , 2009, Brain and Development.

[23]  J. Gilbert,et al.  Factor Analysis of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2007, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[24]  Hsiao-ye Yi,et al.  Subtypes of alcohol dependence in a nationally representative sample. , 2007, Drug and alcohol dependence.

[25]  J. Lisý,et al.  Subtypes of autism by cluster analysis based on structural MRI data , 2005, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

[26]  G. Anderson.  The potential role for emergence in autism , 2008, Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research.

[27]  A. Parmeggiani,et al.  Epilepsy in adolescents and young adults with autistic disorder , 2000, Brain and Development.

[28]  H. Hara.  Autism and epilepsy: A retrospective follow-up study , 2007, Brain and Development.

[29]  J. Gilbert,et al.  A Genome‐wide Association Study of Autism Reveals a Common Novel Risk Locus at 5p14.1 , 2009, Annals of human genetics.

[30]  N. M. Mukaddes,et al.  Pervasive developmental disorders in individuals with cerebral palsy , 2009, Developmental medicine and child neurology.

[31]  M. Baulac,et al.  Epilepsy in Autism is Associated with Intellectual Disability and Gender: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis , 2008, Biological Psychiatry.

[32]  R. Tuchman,et al.  Epilepsy in autism , 2002, The Lancet Neurology.

[33]  M. Brimacombe,et al.  Prevalence of motor impairment in autism spectrum disorders , 2007, Brain and Development.

[34]  Daniel Stahl,et al.  Latent Cluster Analysis of ALS Phenotypes Identifies Prognostically Differing Groups , 2009, PloS one.

[35]  I. Moilanen,et al.  Use of Context in Pragmatic Language Comprehension by Children with Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism , 2007, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.