PURPOSE: This retrospective multicenter study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of brivaracetam (BRV) in pediatric epilepsy. METHODS: Our cohort consisted of 93 children (mean age 11.5 ± 7.5 years) with a wide spectrum of pediatric epilepsy, including epileptic encephalopathy and generalized epilepsy. Of these, 61 (60.4%) were diagnosed with focal epilepsy, 19 (15.8%) with generalized epilepsy, and 16 (15.8%) with combined epilepsy, while 8 patients (7.9%) had an unknown epilepsy type. The cohort included rare epilepsy syndromes: 8 patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, 3 with Dravet syndrome, and 1 with Rasmussen syndrome. Patients had a history of various antiseizure medications (ASMs) (6.42 ± 3.15), and on average, were being treated with more than two (2.57 ± 1.16) drugs at the time of BRV deployment. RESULTS: Retention rates were high, with 80.6% of patients adhering to treatment at 3 months, 66.7% at 6 months, and 45.2% at 12 months. In 29 patients (30.1%), BRV was added in an overnight switch from levetiracetam (LEV), resulting in a reduction of behavioral adverse effects (AEs) in 5 patients (17.2%). The response rate was 25.8% at 3 months, 16.1% at 6 months, and 17.2% at 12 months, with no responders in the epileptic encephalopathy group. Therapy tolerance was notable, with 70 patients (75.3%) reporting no AEs. Transient AEs occurred in 10 patients (10.7%), and in 13 cases (14.0%), the AEs warranted dose adjustment or discontinuation of BRV. CONCLUSION: Approximately one-fifth of pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy responded to BRV, with the best response observed in patients with focal seizures. However, the impact on patients with epileptic encephalopathy was limited.
- MeSH
- antikonvulziva * škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- epilepsie farmakoterapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- pyrrolidinony * škodlivé účinky terapeutické užití aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
OBJECTIVE: To compare persons with epilepsy (PWE) to those with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) on measures of depression, anxiety, and alexithymia subscales (i.e., difficulty identifying emotions, difficulty describing emotions, and external-oriented thinking). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 235 epilepsy patients and 90 patients with PNES were evaluated between 2012 and 2020 at the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group. These patients had completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), The Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D) and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Background information was collected regarding work/student/disability status at the time of the evaluation history of psychiatric diagnosis; psychological trauma; and involvement in psychotherapy either at the time of the evaluation or prior. RESULTS: Significant differences between PWEs and those with PNES were found not only in historical data (e.g., Psychiatric History, History of Trauma, and History of Therapy) (p < .001) but also on measures of Depression (p = .002) and Anxiety (p < .001). ANOVA analysis also revealed significant differences in the distribution of the TAS-Total score, TAS-Describing emotions, and TAS-Identifying emotions. Using logistic regression (stepwise model) the optimal set of predictors for a differential diagnosis of epilepsy and PNES was combination of TAS-Identifying emotions score, history of psychological trauma, and history of therapy. The accuracy of the prediction was determined to be 80.2 %. CONCLUSIONS: Although higher alexithymia rates are present in PNES and PWEs, clinicians may find a combination of TAS-Identifying Emotion score, history of trauma, and history of psychotherapy useful in supporting a differential diagnosis. Also, a subgroup may exist among those with PNES with high levels of alexithymia, depression, and anxiety that may require a different treatment approach focused on addressing difficulties in identifying and describing their emotions and their other symptomatology.
- MeSH
- afekt fyziologie MeSH
- afektivní symptomy * diagnóza etiologie MeSH
- deprese diagnóza etiologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- epilepsie * psychologie komplikace MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- psychiatrické posuzovací škály MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- úzkost * diagnóza etiologie MeSH
- záchvaty * psychologie diagnóza MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
PURPOSE: Epilepsy patients consider driving issues to be one of their most serious concerns. Ideally, decisions regarding fitness to drive should be based upon thorough evaluations by specialists in epilepsy care. In 2009, an EU directive was published aiming to harmonize evaluation practices within European countries, but, despite these recommendations, whether all epileptologists use the same criteria is unclear. We therefore conducted this study to investigate routine practices on how epileptologists at European epilepsy centers evaluate fitness to drive. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 63 contact persons identified through the European Epi-Care and the E-pilepsy network. The questionnaire addressed how fitness-to-drive evaluations were conducted, the involvement of different professionals, the use and interpretation of EEG, and opinions on existing regulations and guidelines. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 35 participants (56 % response rate). Results showed considerable variation regarding test routines and the emphasis placed on the occurrence and extent of epileptiform discharges revealed by EEG. 82 % of the responders agreed that there was a need for more research on how to better evaluate fitness-to-drive in people with epilepsy, and 89 % agreed that regulations on fitness to drive evaluations should be internationally coordinated. CONCLUSION: Our survey showed considerable variations among European epileptologists regarding use of EEG and how findings of EEG pathology should be assessed in fitness-to-drive evaluations. There is a clear need for more research on this issue and international guidelines on how such evaluations should be carried out would be of value.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- elektroencefalografie MeSH
- epilepsie epidemiologie MeSH
- lékařská praxe - způsoby provádění statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neurologové statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- postoj zdravotnického personálu * MeSH
- posuzování pracovní neschopnosti * MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- řízení motorových vozidel zákonodárství a právo statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
Debates on six controversial topics on the network theory of epilepsy were held during two debate sessions, as part of the International Conference for Technology and Analysis of Seizures, 2019 (ICTALS 2019) convened at the University of Exeter, UK, September 2-5 2019. The debate topics were (1) From pathologic to physiologic: is the epileptic network part of an existing large-scale brain network? (2) Are micro scale recordings pertinent for defining the epileptic network? (3) From seconds to years: do we need all temporal scales to define an epileptic network? (4) Is it necessary to fully define the epileptic network to control it? (5) Is controlling seizures sufficient to control the epileptic network? (6) Does the epileptic network want to be controlled? This article, written by the organizing committee for the debate sessions and the debaters, summarizes the arguments presented during the debates on these six topics.
- MeSH
- epilepsie diagnóza farmakoterapie patofyziologie MeSH
- kongresy jako téma MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nervová síť účinky léků patofyziologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Over the last few decades the ILAE classifications for seizures and epilepsies (ILAE-EC) have been updated repeatedly to reflect the substantial progress that has been made in diagnosis and understanding of the etiology of epilepsies and seizures and to correct some of the shortcomings of the terminology used by the original taxonomy from the 1980s. However, these proposals have not been universally accepted or used in routine clinical practice. During the same period, a separate classification known as the "Four-dimensional epilepsy classification" (4D-EC) was developed which includes a seizure classification based exclusively on ictal symptomatology, which has been tested and adapted over the years. The extensive arguments for and against these two classification systems made in the past have mainly focused on the shortcomings of each system, presuming that they are incompatible. As a further more detailed discussion of the differences seemed relatively unproductive, we here review and assess the concordance between these two approaches that has evolved over time, to consider whether a classification incorporating the best aspects of the two approaches is feasible. To facilitate further discussion in this direction we outline a concrete proposal showing how such a compromise could be accomplished, the "Integrated Epilepsy Classification". This consists of five categories derived to different degrees from both of the classification systems: 1) a "Headline" summarizing localization and etiology for the less specialized users, 2) "Seizure type(s)", 3) "Epilepsy type" (focal, generalized or unknown allowing to add the epilepsy syndrome if available), 4) "Etiology", and 5) "Comorbidities & patient preferences".
- MeSH
- epilepsie klasifikace MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- směrnice pro lékařskou praxi jako téma * MeSH
- společnosti lékařské * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
PURPOSE: The term PNES refers to a conversion disorder that mimics epileptic seizures but has a psychological etiology. Recent studies report that in patients with PNES, there is reduced understanding of emotions, impulse control difficulties, and limited access to emotional regulation strategies. The aim of this study was to compare patients diagnosed with PNES with healthy volunteers on the presence of maladaptive emotional regulation. METHOD: Patients (N = 64 F:M 52:12; mean age 35.5 years; duration ≥ 2 years) were assessed while inpatients at the Epilepsy Center, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague. PNES diagnosis was based on normal EEG findings, habitual seizure capture, suggestive seizure provocation, neuropsychological assessment and patients´ history. The clinical sample was compared with healthy volunteers (N = 64 F:M 52:12; mean age 35.8 years). The presence of maladaptive emotional regulation was assessed through the Czech research version of the ASQ and DERS. RESULTS: Compared with a healthy sample, patients with PNES had greater emotion regulation impairments across nearly all dimensions of the DERS - Nonacceptance = 17.0 (M = 14.5), p = 0.006, Goals = 16.0 (M = 11.5), p < 0.001, Impulse control = 13.8 (M = 11.5), p = 0.005, Awareness = 16.4 (M = 15.3), p = 0.183, Strategies = 17.9 (M = 13.0), p < 0.001, Clarity = 11.8 (M = 9.5), p < 0.001 and the total score of the DERS = 92.9 (M = 75.3), p < 0.001. Similar results were found in ASQ questionnaire scales - Concealing = 24.5 (M = 21.0), p = 0.002, and Adjusting = 20.9 (M = 22.8), p = 0.076 but not on the Tolerating Scale = 14.5 (M = 14.7), p = 0.873. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight that maladaptive emotional regulation is a key psychological mechanism in PNES. Emotional dysregulation may represent an important target when designing psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic approaches for patients with PNES.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate seizure outcome in children with hematological malignancies and PRES and to identify prognostic factors that could help manage the syndrome. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the report data of 21 patients diagnosed with hematological malignancy or aplastic anemia and PRES between 2008 and 2018. Basic demographic data, oncology treatment, presymptomatic hypertension before PRES manifestation, neurological status, seizure type, and EEG and MRI findings at PRES onset and at the one-year follow-up visit were studied. Patients who developed remote symptomatic seizures or epilepsy were identified. RESULTS: We included 21 children (11 females and 10 males) in the study. Sixteen patients (76.2%) were diagnosed with ALL and the rest individually with AML, CML, T-lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and severe aplastic anemia. Presymptomatic hypertension (PSH) was evaluated in 19 patients and was present in 18 (94.7%). The duration was 9 h and more in 16 patients (88.8%); the severity was grade II in 12 patients (66.7%). Seizures as the initial symptom of PRES were present in 17 patients (80.9%). Four patients (19.0%) were assessed with remote symptomatic seizures. Two of them (9.5%) had ongoing seizures at the one-year follow-up visit and were diagnosed with epilepsy. The presence of gliosis on follow-up MRI indicated worse outcome with development of epilepsy (without statistical significance). CONCLUSIONS: PRES syndrome has an overall good prognosis and the evolution to epilepsy is rare. The severity and duration of PSH or seizure severity and EEG findings at PRES onsetwere not associated with worse neurological outcomes in this study.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- elektroencefalografie metody MeSH
- hematologické nádory komplikace diagnostické zobrazování patofyziologie MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- následné studie MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- syndrom zadní leukoencefalopatie komplikace diagnostické zobrazování patofyziologie MeSH
- syndromy selhání kostní dřeně komplikace diagnostické zobrazování patofyziologie MeSH
- záchvaty komplikace diagnostické zobrazování patofyziologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
PURPOSE: To evaluate cerebellar volume changes in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients in greater detail. We aimed to determine which discrete substructures significantly differ in patients with TLE compared to controls and the nature of this difference. Correlations with age at epilepsy onset, epilepsy duration, seizure frequency, and total number of antiepileptic drugs (AED) in the patient's history were studied. We analyzed the potential association between cerebellar atrophy and epilepsy surgery outcome. METHODS: Study participants were 36 TLE patients; 22 hippocampal sclerosis (HS) only and 38 healthy controls. All patients later underwent temporal lobe resection. All subjects were examined using 1.5T MRI. Cerebellar volume was adjusted for total intracranial volume, age, and gender, and measured using voxel-based morphometry. Cerebellar substructures were defined using the AAL atlas. Data processing was performed automatically. Separate analyses for HS only subset were performed. RESULTS: Total cerebellar gray matter volume (GMV) appeared non-significantly smaller in epilepsy patients. Within the substructures, the GMV of the selected vermian segments were significantly larger in patients. The GMV of the whole cerebellum and of all individual cerebellar substructures non-significantly decreased with increasing complex partial seizure frequency and total number of AEDs in the patient's history. Total cerebellar GMV was significantly smaller in patients with persistent seizures after epilepsy surgery than in seizure-free patients. CONCLUSION: Cerebellar atrophy is a complex phenomenon, the character of changes differs significantly within the cerebellar substructures. Total cerebellar GMV reduction is associated with worse outcome of temporal lobe resection.
- MeSH
- atrofie etiologie patologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- epilepsie temporálního laloku komplikace patologie chirurgie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- neurochirurgické výkony metody MeSH
- progrese nemoci MeSH
- šedá hmota patologie MeSH
- statistika jako téma MeSH
- věk při počátku nemoci MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
PURPOSE: Epileptic seizures are a common manifestation of autoimmune encephalitis, but the role of neural antibodies in long-term epilepsy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of neural-surface antibodies (NSAbs) and antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in patients with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHOD: Patients with an electro-clinical diagnosis of TLE and a disease duration longer than one year were included. NSAbs (LGI1, CASPR2, AMPAR1/2, NMDAR, GABABR) and antibodies against GAD were detected. Only patients with significant antibody levels in serum, and/or positivity in CSF (according to antibody subtype), were enrolled in the seropositive group. Cohorts of seropositive and seronegative patients were compared regarding clinical and imaging data. RESULTS: Significant serum levels of antibodies were detected in eight out of 163 (5%) TLE patients (CASPR2 n = 2, GAD n = 3, LGI1 n = 2, and GABABR n = 1). In four of them, antibodies were detected in the CSF as well (CASPR2 in one, GAD in three). Five seropositive patients had uni- or bilateral temporal lobe lesions on MRI and three patients were non-lesional. All seropositive patients had TLE of unknown cause. Seropositive patients had higher age at epilepsy onset and autoimmune comorbidity, but did not differ in other clinical, EEG or neuroimaging characteristics. Response to immunotherapy (seizure reduction >50%) was observed in three of the six patients treated. CONCLUSIONS: Besides older age at epilepsy onset and autoimmune comorbidity, seropositive patients cannot be distinguished from seronegative patients on the basis of clinical, EEG or neuroimaging data.
- MeSH
- autoimunitní nemoci komplikace epidemiologie MeSH
- autoprotilátky krev MeSH
- chronická nemoc MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- epilepsie temporálního laloku komplikace epidemiologie patofyziologie terapie MeSH
- glutamát dekarboxyláza imunologie MeSH
- imunoterapie MeSH
- komorbidita MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- proteiny nervové tkáně imunologie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- věk při počátku nemoci MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
PURPOSE: The paper presents a long-term follow-up study of VNS patients, analyzing seizure outcome, medication changes, and surgical problems. METHOD: 74 adults with VNS for 10 to 17 years were evaluated yearly as: non-responder - NR (seizure frequency reduction <50%), responder - R (reduction ≥ 50% and <90%), and 90% responder - 90R (reduction ≥ 90%). Delayed R or 90R (≥ 4 years after surgery), patients with antiepileptic medication changes and battery or complete system replacement were identified. Statistical analysis of potential outcome predictors (age, seizure duration, MRI, seizure type) was performed. RESULTS: The rates of R and 90R related to the patients with outcome data available for the study years 1, 2, 10, and 17 were for R 38.4%, 51.4%, 63.6%, and 77.8%, and for 90R 1.4%, 5.6%, 15.1%, and 11.1%. The absolute numbers of R and 90R increased until years 2 and 6. Antiepileptic therapy was changed in 62 patients (87.9%). There were 11 delayed R and four delayed 90R, with medication changes in the majority. At least one battery replacement was performed in 51 patients (68.9%), 49 of whom R or 90R. VNS system was completely replaced in 7 patients (9.5%) and explanted in 7 NR (9.5%). No significant predictor of VNS outcome was found. CONCLUSIONS: After an initial increase, the rate of R and 90R remains stable in long-term follow-up. The changes of antiepileptic treatment in most patients potentially influence the outcome. Battery replacements or malfunctioning system exchange reflect the patient's satisfaction and correlate with good outcomes.
- MeSH
- antikonvulziva terapeutické užití MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- epilepsie terapie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- následné studie MeSH
- paliativní péče MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- reoperace MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- vagová stimulace * přístrojové vybavení MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- zdroje elektrické energie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
