Seizure

Acute symptomatic seizures (ASS) are defined as clinical seizures occurring at the time of a systemic or brain insult. Seizures occurring in the context of an autoimmune disease, such as an autoimmune encephalitis, are considered autoimmune acute symptomatic seizures if signs or symptoms of immune activation are noted [1] The current International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) terminology considers seizures in the context of autoimmune encephalitis at initial or relapsing presentations as acute symptomatic.

Epilepsy is a serious chronic neurological disorder associated with an increased risk of psychiatric comorbidity and premature mortality. Accumulating evidence suggests that somatic comorbidity is markedly increased in people with epilepsy compared to the general population. [1–6] These comorbidities have a substantial detrimental effect on the quality of life in people with epilepsy [7–11]. The precise determinants for the comorbidities are yet unknown, but may include the use of medications for epilepsy or other indications [12,13].

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by an enduring predisposition to recurrent seizures, with social, biological and psychological consequences [1]. Epilepsy is more prevalent in persons with intellectual disability (ID) [2], compared to the general population [3]. In a cross-sectional study of 14,751 patients with ID, 18.5% had epilepsy compared to 0.7% of controls (Prevalence ratio 25) [4].

Febrile seizures (FS), the most common seizures observed in pediatric patients, affect 2-5% of children below 5 years of age [1,2]. These are characterized by fever episodes without any history of neurological insults or spontaneous seizures [3]. Many studies on family and twins have demonstrated that genetic factors play an important role in FS [4,5]. Approximately one-third of children with FS show a positive family history [4]. Possible modes of inheritance for genetic predisposition to FS are autosomal dominance with ...

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has currently engulfed most countries, has taught mankind unexpected lessons and forced to develop innovative ways to deal with this unprecedented havoc[1]. Only a few living persons have limited experience of dealing with such a huge pandemic, spreading like wildfire as the last worldwide influenza pandemic occurred nearly 100 years back. The SARS CoV-2 predominantly causes a respiratory illness, which culminates in severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and cytokine storm response and death in ...

Dravet syndrome (DS), otherwise known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI), is a severe and rare drug-resistant seizure disorder with an incidence of 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 40,000 [1–2]. Between 70% and 80% of patients with DS carry sodium channel α1 subunit gene (SCN1A) abnormalities [3]. The characteristics of DS include early onset (before 1 year of age). Infants with DS often present with prolonged, hemiconvulsive seizures triggered by fever; other seizure types, including focal with impaired awareness, ...

We read with great interest the recently published article titled “Sirolimus improves seizure control in pediatric patients with tuberous sclerosis: A prospective cohort study” by Wen He et al, which concludes sirolimus can be used as a first-line antiepileptic drug in children with tuberous sclerosis (TSC) and can cause significant gain in development milestones [1]. However, we wish to add a few comments.

I was privileged to meet Tomis when I was a registrar at St Thomas’ Hospital in 1992, fresh from early training at the National Hospital for Neurology, Queen Square. Tomis’ enthusiasm for his specialities, clinical neurophysiology and epileptology, was infectious. His personal charm was immediately apparent, which together with his smile and charming Greek accent gave him an air of approachability. He was invariably polite in the face of ignorance, and encouraged all around him by the strategy of talking ...

Epilepsy is one of the common neurological diseases, characterized by abnormally synchronized discharges of brain neurons [1]. There are more than 50 million epileptic patients worldwide, 30% of whom are refractory [2], and the poor therapeutic effects contribute heavy psychological and economic burdens on patients and their own families. Epileptic surgery can sometimes have seizure free or reduce the frequency of seizures, of which the premise is to accurately localize the epileptogenic foci. Currently, the localization of epileptogenic foci involves ...

We read the letter from Professor Prateek Kumar Panda with great interest. We think that the letter also provides us a chance for an in-depth discussion on the efficacy of sirolimus. Below are our responses.