Epilepsia. Official Journal of the International League Against Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective

The cyclin‐dependent kinase like 5 (CDKL5) gene is a known cause of early onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, also known as CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD). We sought to (1) provide a description of seizure types in patients with CDD, (2) provide an assessment of the frequency of seizure‐free periods and cortical visual impairment (CVI), (3) correlate these features with genotype and gender, and (4) correlate these features with developmental milestones.

Methods

This is a cohort study of patients with CDD. Phenotypic features ...

Abstract

Objective

To identify whether abnormal electroencephalography (EEG) connectivity is present before the onset of epileptic spasms (ES) in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Methods

Scalp EEG recordings were collected prospectively in infants diagnosed with TSC in the first year of life. This study compared the earliest recorded EEG from infants prior to ES onset (n = 16) and from infants who did not develop ES (n = 28). Five minutes of stage II or quiet sleep was clipped and filtered into canonical EEG frequency bands. Mutual ...

Abstract

Objective

To identify neuroimaging and clinical biomarkers associated with a language‐impaired phenotype in refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Methods

Eighty‐five patients with TLE were characterized as language‐impaired (TLE‐LI) or non–language‐impaired (TLE‐NLI) based on comprehensive neuropsychological testing. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging, and functional MRI (fMRI) were obtained in patients and 47 healthy controls (HC). fMRI activations and cortical thickness were calculated within language regions of interest, and fractional anisotropy (FA) was calculated within deep white matter tracts associated with language. ...

Abstract

Objectives

Both clinical genomics and e‐Health technology are changing the way medicine is being practiced. Although the basic clinical methodology of good medical care will remain unchanged, the combined power of genomics and electronic health records has the capability of enhancing, and in some cases transforming, the practice of medicine. This is particularly true in the care of patients with complex long‐term medical conditions such as chronic refractory epilepsy, especially in those with related complex comorbidities including intellectual disability and psychiatric ...

Abstract

Accumulating data on patients with autoimmune encephalitis have shed light on specificities concerning clinical presentation and outcomes, which are dependent on the antigen targeted by the autoantibodies found in the patients’ cerebrospinal fluid or sera. Such specificities include seizure‐related clinical manifestations as well as the responsiveness to antiepileptic drugs. Although increased enthusiasm accompanies the discovery of novel antibodies and their associated clinical syndromes, several issues remain unsettled. First, it appears that therapy needs to be personalized in the view of ...

Abstract

Objective

To investigate intrathecal inflammation using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokines and chemokines in a subgroup of pediatric epilepsy patients with frequent daily seizures.

Methods

We measured 32 cytokines/chemokines using multiplex immunoassay in CSF collected from pediatric patients with febrile infection‐related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES)/FIRES‐related disorders (FRD; n = 6), febrile status epilepticus (FSE; n = 8), afebrile status epilepticus (ASE; n = 8), and chronic epilepsy with frequent daily seizures (n = 21) and compared the results with noninflammatory neurological disorders (NIND; n = 20) and encephalitis (n = 43). We also performed longitudinal CSF cytokine/chemokine ...

Abstract

Objective

The frontal lobe in childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) might be affected due to the suggested involvement of the frontal lobe during absence seizures and reports on attentional deficits. Previously, subtle white matter abnormalities have been reported in CAE. However, the impact of one of the most characteristic components of the white matter, the myelin content, remains underdetermined. Therefore, this study investigated whether the myelin content in frontal areas is adversely affected in CAE compared to controls.

Methods

Seventeen children with childhood absence ...

Abstract

Objective

Exposure to organophosphates (OPs) and OP nerve agents (NAs) causes status epilepticus (SE) and irreversible brain damage. Rapid control of seizure activity is important to minimize neuronal injury and the resulting neurological and behavioral disorders; however, early treatment will not be possible after mass release of OPs or NAs.

Methods

We utilized a delayed‐treatment model of OP exposure in adult rats by administration of diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) to study the relationship between the antiseizure and neuroprotective effects of the “standard‐of‐care” benzodiazepine, midazolam ...

Abstract

Objective

To determine the diagnostic yield of a commercial epilepsy gene panel in adults with chronic epilepsy and accompanying intellectual disability, given that genetic evaluation is often overlooked in this group of patients.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study analyzing the results of epilepsy gene panels including up to 185 genes in adult epilepsy patients with intellectual disability, according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition. Patients with acquired structural brain abnormalities or known chromosomal abnormalities were excluded.

Results

From approximately 600 ...