occipitial lobe epilepsy

[WARRIORMOM]

2 years ago my daughter was Dx'd with bifocal frontal lobe partial complex myoclonic epilepsy.She had seizures since birth but they kept telling me she was having behavior problems.Her seizures only occur during sleep. Also the DX of PDD-Nos. She had severe speech impairment, which she has been in therapy for 2 yrs. She had a completely normal EEG at the beginning of 2005. She had another 72 hr EEG in 12/05. The impression: Many sharp waves seen in the sleep record on the right occipitial area indicating a very active discharge focus within that region. These many discharges are consistant w/ occipitial lobe epilepsy, and the young age at this time might suggest the variant that is usually beginning at 4 yrs of age and is often associated w/ nighttime vomitting.  She has been taking Topamax for 2 yrs. Now, I have read alot of info on this topic.
The first question: is it possible to grow out of occipitial lobe epilepsy?
Second question:  Is the frontal lobe epilepsy still presently occuring?
Third Question: Is there any comprehensive testing that can be done to show if damage has occurred to this area, ie MRI, MRA?
Fourth: Is there any med/vitamin that might help the brain to prevent damage to the visual "cortex".
I see her neurologist again in 2 weeks. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I have seen and dealt with the damage that this debilitating disease can do. I would like to prevent it if possible.

[WARRIORMOM]

Thanks a bunch. My daughter will be getting a high trdolution MRI done in the near future. Thanks again for your time and consiferation.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

1) the variant they are referring to is called "Panyotopoulos syndrome" and it is a controversial topic in epilepsy. Cases that have been described may remit as the child gets older. But there are other causes of occipital lobe epilepsy too, such as cortical dysplasia or tumor, and these should be looked for with a good MRI. These other causes have a more chronic course of epilepsy .

2) Is does not completely rule this out, as the EEG is just one picture in time (although 72 hours). However it is encouraging that none was seen on the EEG. Rarely bifrontal discharges can be from an occipital lobe focus that spread very quickly)

3) With most focal epilepsies an MRI should be done to look for damage, etc

4) there are no drugs availabel yet to 'protect' the brain against more seizures - a lot of research is going on in this area though