Epilepsy
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Epilepsy
General Information
NEWS:
Seizures most common during full moon
ARTICLES:
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Adult epilepsy (The Lancet 2006)
Air travel and seizure frequency for individuals with epilepsy (Seizure 2006) "This study suggests that air travel promotes an increase in seizures for those with a prior history of flight related seizures and a relatively high baseline seizure frequency."
Auras are frequent in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (NEUROLOGY 2006)
Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Children With Epilepsy (J Child Neurol. 2006)
Childhood epilepsy: Failures along the path to diagnosis and treatment. (pilepsy Behav. 2006)
Children with new-onset epilepsy: neuropsychological status and brain structure. (rain. 2006) "Abnormalities in cognition, academic performance and brain volumetrics have been reported in children with chronic epilepsy. The nature and degree to which these problems may be present at epilepsy onset or may instead become more evident over time remains to be determined. This study characterizes neuropsychological status, brain structure and their interrelationship in children with recent-onset epilepsy compared with healthy controls."
Cognitive Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. (Epilepsia. 2006)
Cognitive problems related to epilepsy syndromes, especially malignant epilepsies. (Seizure. 2006)
Correlation between Cognition and Behavior in Epilepsy. (Epilepsia. 2006) "Cognitive function is more frequently impaired in people with epilepsy than in the general population, and the degree of cognitive impairment varies according to the epilepsy syndrome. Behavioral disorders are also more frequent in people with epilepsy than in individuals who do not have epilepsy. Behavioral disturbance is observed more frequently in people with drug-resistant epilepsy, frequent seizures, and/or associated neurological or mental abnormalities."
Effects of temporal lobe epilepsy on retrograde memory. (Epilepsia. 2006)
Emergency department admission of children with unprovoked seizure: recurrence within 24 hours. (Pediatr Neurol. 2006) "Based on our findings that 20% of admitted children had one or more seizures within 24 hours, we think it is justified to admit and observe the children with seizures who are not on antiepileptic medications if the follow-up cannot be ensured."
Epilepsy and alcohol (Epileptic Disorders 2006)
Epilepsy and Celiac Disease: Favorable Outcome With a Gluten-Free Diet in a Patient Refractory to Antiepileptic Drugs. (Neurologist. 2006) "CONCLUSION:: This case emphasizes the need to include celiac disease in the differential diagnosis when investigating the etiology of epilepsy in refractory patients."
Epilepsy and multiple sclerosis (Epileptic Disorders 2006) "Epilepsy is three to six times more frequent in multiple sclerosis than in the general adult population. The probable anatomic basis for the seizures is areas of inflammation and demyelination in the cortex and juxtacortical white matter. Partial epilepsies with focal seizures often with atypical symptoms and with or without secondary generalisation are the usual pattern. Seizures can be observed as the first symptom of multiple sclerosis, or during relapses, with a direct correlation between paroxysmal phenomena and plaques demonstrated by brain MRI."
Epilepsy and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. (Eur Neurol. 2006) "Our data suggest the importance of considering diagnosis and treatment of OSA in epilepsy patients with poor seizure control and/or reappearance of seizures after a seizure-free interval."
Epilepsy and sleep. (urr Treat Options Neurol. 2006)
Epilepsy in autism spectrum disorders. (Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006) "Epilepsy is quite common in autism spectrum disorders, and it is increasingly recognized as an additional clinical problem that must be dealt with. The rate of comorbidity varies, depending upon the age and type of disorder, and currently the conservative estimate of comorbidity cases is 20-25% of the whole spectrum. Major risk factors for seizure occurrence are mental retardation and additional neurological disorders, as well as some specific associated medical conditions. Autism with regression has been reported in one-third of children with previously normal or nearly normal development. In an unknown proportion of these subjects, epileptic disorders are concomitant, leading to so-called autistic epileptiform regression. Furthermore, epileptiform abnormalities without seizures are frequent in this population and their role in the development of the nuclear disturbances of autism is controversial."
Epilepsy in children. (Lancet. 2006)
Evaluation of nutritional status in children with refractory epilepsy (Nutrition Journal)
How Long Do Most Seizures Last? A Systematic Comparison of Seizures Recorded in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (Epilepsia 2006)
Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies of Adolescence. (Epilepsia. 2006) "The prevalence of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) has been assessed as being 15-20% of all epilepsies. The seizure types in IGEs are typical absences, myoclonic jerks, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (TCS), alone or in varying combinations and with variable severity. The seizures tend to be more frequent on awakening and with sleep deprivation. This group of clinical conditions includes among others, age-related epilepsy syndromes of adolescence such as juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and IGE with generalized TCS or epilepsy with grand mal on awakening (EGMA)."
Incidence, cause, and short-term outcome of convulsive status epilepticus in childhood: prospective population-based study. (Lancet. 2006) "BACKGROUND: Convulsive status epilepticus is the most common childhood medical neurological emergency, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Most data for this disorder are from mainly adult populations and might not be relevant to childhood. Thus we undertook the North London Status Epilepticus in Childhood Surveillance Study (NLSTEPSS): a prospective, population-based study of convulsive status epilepticus in childhood, to obtain a uniquely paediatric perspective. . INTERPRETATION: Convulsive status epilepticus in childhood is more common, has a different range of causes, and a lower risk of death than that in adults. These paediatric data will help inform management of convulsive status epilepticus and appropriate allocation of resources to reduce the effects of this disorder in childhood."
Interictal depression, anxiety, personality traits, and psychological dissociation in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and extra-TLE. (Epilepsia. 2006) "CONCLUSIONS: TLE per se cannot be considered a risk factor in developing more or more severe symptoms of psychopathology in patients with partial epilepsy. Concomitant factors, such as the duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency, and frontal lobe dysfunction may play an additional role. Our findings support the hypothesis of a multifactorial explanation for the psychiatric symptoms in patients with epilepsy."
Learning Disorders in Epilepsy. (Epilepsia. 2006)
Memory and language impairments and their relationships to hippocampal and perirhinal cortex damage in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy. (Epilepsy Behav. 2006)
Menstrual Cycle May Impact Epilepsy
Menstrual disorders in women with epilepsy. (Neurology. 2006)
New-onset temporal lobe epilepsy in children (NEUROLOGY 2006) " Conclusion: Seizures spontaneously remit in approximately one third of children with new-onset TLE. A lesion on MRI predicts intractable seizures in TLE and the potential need for epilepsy surgery."
Nonlesional frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) of childhood: clinical presentation, response to treatment and comorbidity. (Epilepsia. 2006) "CONCLUSION: Nonlesional FLE is associated with poor seizure and behavioral outcomes. Whether this is secondary to MRI-silent developmental lesions or to the progressive repercussion of seizures on frontal lobe functions remains uncertain. A prospective study with early neuropsychological assessment could help confirm the latter."
Posttraumatic epilepsy: a major problem in desperate need of major advances. (Epilepsy Curr. 2006) "Traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounts for 20% of symptomatic epilepsy in the general population and 5% of all epilepsy (1). Posttraumatic epilepsy can occur soon after injury or may develop months to years later. Studies of civilian and military populations have assessed the basic epidemiology of this condition. A number of population-based studies, both prospective and retrospective, have been aimed at identifying risk factors for development of a first seizure and recurrent seizures following TBI."
Post-traumatic epilepsy: An overview (Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery 2006) "Cortical lesions seem important in the genesis of the epileptic activity, and early seizures are likely to have a different pathogenesis than late seizures. Anti-epileptic drugs available for treatment are phenytoin, sodium valproate, and carbamazepine. Newer anti-epileptics are helpful, particularly in patients with associated post-traumatic stress disorders; however, no randomized controlled studies are available to prove that one of these drugs is better than the other. Current evidence is that the treatment of early post-traumatic seizures does not influence the incidence of post-traumatic epilepsy. Routine preventive anticonvulsants are not indicated for patients with head injuries, and treatment in the acute phase does not reduce death or disability rates."
Prediction of risk of seizure recurrence after a single seizure and early epilepsy: further results from the MESS trial. (Lancet Neurol. 2006) "FINDINGS: Number of seizures of all types at presentation, presence of a neurological disorder, and an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) were significant factors in indicating future seizures. Individuals with two or three seizures, a neurological disorder, or an abnormal EEG were identified as the medium-risk group, those with two of these features or more than three seizures as the high-risk group, and those with a single seizure only as the low-risk group. INTERPRETATION: The model shows that there is little benefit to immediate treatment in patients at low risk of seizure recurrence, but potentially worthwhile benefits are seen in those at medium and high risk."
Prevention and treatment of post-traumatic epilepsy. (Expert Rev Neurother. 2006) "Post-traumatic epilepsy is reported after 2-5% of closed head injuries but up to 50% or more following penetrating head injury."
Risk factors for depression in patients with epilepsy. (Epilepsy Behav. 2006)
Risk factors for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in children and adolescents with epilepsy. (Epilepsy Behav. 2006) "There is evidence that psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) remain underdiagnosed, especially in children and adolescents.. Risk factors such as head trauma, physical, sexual and psychological abuse, and psychiatric diagnoses, among others, were investigated. Family history of epilepsy and psychiatric illness were detected by review of medical records and/or follow-up interviews. Gender was not a predictive factor, and although older children had a higher risk for PNES, younger children also presented truly psychogenic events mimicking epileptic seizures. The most common associated psychiatric diagnosis was depression. Family histories for epilepsy and psychiatric illness were a frequent finding. An inadequate family environment was more common than sexual or physical abuse. Current knowledge obtained from adults with PNES has been used to understand children with PNES."
Severe memory impairment in a child with bihippocampal injury after status epilepticus. (Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006)
Sexual dysfunctions and blood hormonal profile in men with focal epilepsy. (Epilepsia. 2006) "CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a relatively high incidence of sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction with sexual intercourse and sex life, as defined by the IIEF I-V questionnaire, in men with refractory focal epilepsy. The most frequent dysfunction in these patients is the impairment of sexual desire. However, our study indicates some specific hormonal changes related to various types of sexual dysfunction that are not related to antiepileptic drug treatment."
Should We Routinely Perform Blood Tests In Children With Uncontrolled Seizures? (J Child Neurol. 2006)
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: from mechanisms to prevention. (Curr Opin Neurol. 2006) "SUMMARY: Ictal arrhythmias may represent a more prevalent cause of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy than previously thought. No clear recommendations have emerged from the literature regarding the most appropriate therapeutic strategies to prevent the event, apart from the supervision at night of patients with refractory epilepsy."
Status epilepticus in pediatric practice: neonate to adolescent. (Adv Neurol. 2006)
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: from mechanisms to prevention. (Curr Opin Neurol. 2006)
The effects of duration of intractable epilepsy on memory function. (Epilepsy Behav. 2006)
The epidemiology of post-stroke epilepsy according to stroke subtypes (Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 2006) "Our results indicate that post-stroke epilepsy is more common among patients who have experienced venous infarctions. Hemorrhagic and venous infarctions are more commonly encountered in post-stroke epilepsy patients. Atherosclerotic and cardioembolic strokes were similar to those that occurred in post-stroke epilepsy patients. Localizations in post-stroke epileptic patients showed that the majority occurred in the right hemisphere, in the territory of the MCA."
[The neurochemistry of epilepsy, inhibitory neurotransmission and experimental models: new perspectives.] (Rev Neurol. 2006) "CONCLUSIONS. The GABAergic system seems to situate itself as the main system implicated in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, although conditions that have been considered to be idiopathic up till now could have a polygenic nature."
The progression of epilepsy. (Epilepsia. 2006)
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