Seizure

Spinal muscular atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (SMA-PME) is a rare autosomal recessive disease associated with mutations of ASAH1 gene, which encodes N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 1 [1]. It is characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness due to anterior horn cell degeneration, followed by myoclonic seizures and cognitive decline [1]. Age of onset can range from childhood to adolescence [1,2]. In addition to myoclonic seizures, absence, atonic, and rare generalized tonic-clonic seizures have been described [1,2].

Intravenous (IV) administration of antiepileptic drugs is useful in patients who are unable to take oral medication, and in emergency situations such as seizure clusters (SC), status epilepticus (SE), or when rapid introduction of a new agent is necessary because seizures are uncontrolled on baseline therapy. Lacosamide (LCM), a new anti-epileptic drug with a mechanism of action utilizing the slow inactivation of sodium channels [1], is also available in an IV formulation. Several studies have showed the efficacy of IV ...

We read with great interest the article by Ekinci and colleagues published recently in this Journal [1]. The authors performed a cross-sectional study on the relationship between sleep problems and quality of life, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and parents’ emotional status in children with epilepsy. They found that parent-rated T-DSM-IV-S total scores, STAI trait and Beck scores were positively correlated with higher Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) total scores. In addition, ADHD appears to be the strongest predictor of ...

The authors regret that there were errors in the final published article. The corrected version is given here:

The ideal objective of treating a person with epilepsy is of course to induce remission by usage of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and ultimately stop the antiepileptic drugs AEDs without causing seizure recurrence [1]. Nearly 70% of patients with new-onset epilepsy eventually enter prolonged terminal seizure remission during treatment with AEDs [2,3]. The continued use of AEDs in children and adults may be associated with adverse effects in a substantial fraction of the exposed population, including behavioural and cognitive and other ...

The first attempts, in a modern sense, to explore the medical and social outcome of patients with epilepsy were made in the 1950s[1] and 1960s[2] based on patients from hospitals and other institutions. According to those studies and the previous literature from 1901-1964 discussed by Rodin[2], the five-year terminal remission varied by etiology between 15-30%. Yet, studies based on unselected population cohorts are needed to get unbiased and valid data on this chronic disorder. The data are important for the ...

Epilepsy is a serious and chronic neurological disorder that affects all ages from childhood to old age [1]. Epilepsy in adults, children and adolescents is strongly associated with significant morbidities, mortality, stigma and reduced quality of life. It is also associated with educational and professional problems and may therefore have a substantial socioeconomic impact [2,3]. Despite decades of research focusing on its medical or surgical treatment, a significant proportion of patients are left with medically intractable epilepsy and continued seizures.