Seizure

In the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, neuropsychology makes an important contribution to the comprehensive characterization of patients. Through the administration of standardized psychometric tests, cognitive and behavioral strengths and deficits of patients can be detected and quantified. Neuropsychological assessments not only provide useful information regarding the functionality of affected brain structures and networks, but can also be used to examine psychosocial difficulties of epilepsy patients as well as potential cognitive side effects of antiepileptic drugs [1–2].

In women with epilepsy (WWE), the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) in parallel with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) might influence efficacy of both possibly leading to increased seizure frequency and/or unwanted pregnancies [1]. On the one hand, there is a mounting wall of literature that links the so-called enzyme-inducing AEDs (e.g. carbamazepine (CBZ), oxcarbazepine, phenytoin) to possibly enhanced risk of contraceptive failure [1]. On the other hand, potential teratogenic effects of AEDs have to be considered in WWE when therapy is ...

The Dup15q syndrome has received little attention because of its rarity, the fairly nonspecific phenotype, the clinical heterogeneity, and the wide spectrum of severity. Along with developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy are predominant components of the clinical picture. In a retrospective cohort of 30 unrelated patients [1], 77 % of cases met the criteria for developmental delay, while 74 % had a diagnosis of ASD. In a prospective study of children with Dup15q syndrome [2], ASD was ...

Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE), previously Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (NFLE), is characterized by hypermotor seizures arising predominantly from sleep. Recognized etiologies include acquired injuries, structural anomalies and genetic causes [1]. The first gene for SHE, CHRNA4 (Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Alpha 4 Subunit MIM *118504), was identified in 1995 by linkage analysis in a large pedigree showing an autosomal dominant pattern of transmission (ADSHE). Subsequently, mutations in two homologous genes, CHRNB2 (Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Beta 2 Subunit, MIM *118507) and CHRNA2 ...

Status epilepticus (SE) often resulting in serious complications and even death if can’t be controlled in time, and so be considered as the most extreme form of seizure [1]. The abnormality of epileptic inhibition or trigger mechanism makes it difficult to stop [1]. Epidemiological investigations have shown that the incidence rate is 41–61 per 100,000 individuals per year [2]. Due to high fever, circulation failure, aspiration or neuronal toxicity, irreversible brain injury and pulmonary infection often occurred, leading to high ...

Status Epilepticus (SE), the most extreme outcome of seizures, is an emergency requiring specialised evaluation and appropriate treatment. Without prompt medical intervention, SE can have long-term consequences, including cognitive deterioration, neurological deficits, and in extreme cases, death. In resource-poor settings where medical infrastructure is lacking or deficient, early access to in-patient facilities is critical to the final outcome [1]. A recent meta-analysis suggested that the overall incidence of SE in different populations and regions is around 12.6/100,000 [2].

We thank Finsterer and colleagues [1] for their comments on our proposal for a therapeutic strategy in patients with Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy (PME) [2]. We agree that valproic acid (VPA) should not be recommended as a first-line anti-seizure drug in myoclonic epilepsies secondary to mitochondrial disorders (MIDs), as universally accepted in the Literature [3–6]. In patients with suspected MID, we propose levetiracetam and/or benzodiazepines as first-line treatment whereas lamotrigine, perampanel, topiramate, and zonisamide should be considered as potential alternatives (Fig.

Depression is common in patients with epilepsy (PWE): the prevalence of depression in PWE is about five times higher than in the general population [1,2]. The pathophysiological and psychosocial features of epilepsy put individuals at greater risk of depression, and conversely, depression has an adverse effect on epilepsy [3]. Depression is significantly associated with drug-resistant epilepsy and poor quality of life [4,5]. Together with depression, suicide is also a serious problem in PWE. The suicide rate in PWE is about ...

With interest we read the review article by Orsini et al. about myoclonic epilepsy in Unverricht-Lundborg disease, Lafora disease, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF), and sialidoses type 1 and 2 [1]. The authors recommend valproic acid (VPA) as first choice for myoclonic epilepsy irrespective of the underlying cause followed by lamotrigine (LTG), primidone (PRM), phenobarbital (PB), and levetiracetam (LEV) [1]. Other anti-seizure drugs (ASD) that can be considered for myoclonic epilepsy include topiramate (TPM), zonisamide (ZNS), ...

Epilepsy in children is often associated with emotional and behavioural difficulties [1,2] which have a negative impact on the child’s education [3] and family functioning [4], leading to reduced Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).Emotional and behavioral difficulties in childhood have a very significant negative impact on a child’s functioning including on the child’s education and social difficulties leading to significant deficits in the child’s Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) [5,6].