Praxis induction and its relationship with cognition in genetic generalized epilepsy.

INTRODUCTION: Praxis induction (PI) is a reflex trait defined as the precipitation of epileptic discharges (ED) or seizures by cognition-guided tasks that often involve visuomotor coordination and decision-making. This is a characteristic of genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE), and especially of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Additionally, several studies have described dysexecutive traits in these patients. Our objective was to analyze PI in the different syndromes of GGE and explore the relationship between PI and cognitive performance. METHODS: Sixty-one adult patients with GGE underwent video-electroencephalograph (EEG) during which a neuropsychological activation protocol (NPAP) was performed: reading, writing, calculations, crosswords, and tangram. Praxis induction was defined by the presence of ED during the NPAP with a persistence of at least twice seen on the basal EEG. All patients also underwent a comprehensive cognitive evaluation. RESULTS: We observed PI in 22 out of 61 patients (36%). Grouped by syndrome, PI was more frequent in adult patients with persistent childhood or juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE, 60%), followed by JME (42.1%) and in a lesser grade in patients with only tonic-clonic generalized seizures (9%). Patients classified as having PI did not obtain worse results in the cognitive evaluation. The presence of ED during the performance of a test was associated with a trend to lower results in that specific test. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study showed a relevant presence of PI in patients whose absence epilepsy persists into adulthood, and not only in JME, the syndrome classically associated with PI. According to our results, PI as a reflex trait does not imply necessarily a poorer cognitive phenotype, but the induction of frequent ED during the tasks could be associated with transient cognitive impairment.

The cognitive phenotype of idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Dysexecutive traits have been described in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), but studies mainly focused on juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). To better understand the neuropsychology of IGE, more research is needed on syndromes other than JME, controlling potential confounding factors as the cognitive effects of valproate and epileptic discharges (ED). We describe the neuropsychological profile of a group of patients with different syndromes of IGE including simultaneous video electroencephalography (EEG). METHODS: We performed a comprehensive cognitive and neuropsychiatric evaluation with video-EEG on 61 adults with IGE (JME 19; IGE with generalized tonic-clonic seizures [GTCS] alone [IGE-GTCS] 22; childhood absence epilepsy [CAE] or juvenile absences epilepsy [JAE] persisting in adulthood 20). We compared results between patients (globally and by syndrome) and a control group of 21 individuals (similar age, educational level); p-values were adjusted for multiple testing according to a 0.05 false discovery rate. RESULTS: Patients obtained significantly lower results than controls on visuospatial working memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility and strategy, abstract visuospatial reasoning, arithmetic, and acquired knowledge. While CAE/JAE showed the lowest scores on cognitive assessment and highest anxiety index, IGE-GTCS showed the most favorable scores. Most tests were not influenced by valproate intake, and the dose did not correlate with cognitive performance in the test that yielded differences between patients and controls. Epileptic discharges during assessment were not frequent (10 patients, 1-4 tests). SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that patients with IGE have significantly lower abilities in various executive functions and acquired knowledge, compared to population of same age and education. The low frequency of ED on simultaneous video-EEG and absence of correlation of scores with valproate dose reinforce that the obtained results are due to a cognitive phenotype in IGE. This phenotype may be influenced by syndrome, and patients with CAE/JAE persisting in the adult may have a wider neuropsychiatric impairment.

Epicrania fugax: 19 cases of an emerging headache.

OBJECTIVE: Epicrania fugax (EF) is a primary headache of recent description. We aimed to report 19 new cases of EF, and thus contribute to the characterization of this emerging headache. BACKGROUND: EF is characterized by painful paroxysms starting in a particular area of the head, and rapidly radiating forwards or backwards through the territories of different nerves. The pain is felt in quick motion along a lineal or zigzag trajectory. To date, 47 cases have been published, 34 with forward EF and 13 with backward EF. METHODS: We performed a descriptive study of all EF cases attending our Headache Unit from April 2010 to December 2012. Demographic and clinical data were recorded with a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, there were 12 women and 7 men. Mean age at onset was 51.7 ± 16.2. Fourteen patients had forward EF, while 5 patients had backward EF. Painful paroxysms lasted 1-4 seconds. Pain intensity was usually moderate or severe, and pain quality was mostly electric. Four patients had ocular autonomic accompaniments. Pain frequency was extremely variable, and 7 patients identified some triggers. Between attacks, 13 patients had some pain or tenderness in the stemming area. Thirteen patients required therapy for their pain. Neuromodulators, indomethacin, anesthetic blockades, and steroid injections were used in different cases, with partial or complete response. CONCLUSION: EF appears as a distinct headache syndrome and could be eventually included in future editions of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Extreme delta brush in a patient with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis is a severe, potentially treatable, disorder and prognosis depends on early recognition and prompt immunotherapy. We report a case of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis with atypical age and gender, and a characteristic electroencephalographic pattern that supported the diagnosis. A 66-year-old male presented with psychiatric disturbances and focal seizures with alteration of consciousness, and progressed to a state of akinetic mutism. Auxiliary tests were negative or non-specific for anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Electroencephalographic monitoring revealed a unique pattern; the extreme delta brush. The patient improved with immunotherapy and was asymptomatic at six months of follow-up. Ancillary testing was positive for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies. Extreme delta brush is a recently described electroencephalographic pattern presenting in only one third of patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis. The identification of this pattern, as in our case, may guide early diagnosis and treatment of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Acute amnesia and seizures in a young female.

Limbic encephalitis is a condition characterised by an acute or sub-acute onset of memory disorder, associated with seizures and psychiatric manifestations. Investigations such as brain MRI usually reveal a high intensity signal in the medial temporal lobe and cerebrospinal fluid analysis shows mild pleocytosis and oligoclonal bands. It may occur in association with cancer, infection, or as an isolated clinical condition, often accompanying autoimmune disorders. Immune-mediated limbic encephalitis is now subclassified according to the presence and type of autoantibodies, which has significant consequences regarding the effectiveness of treatment and prognosis. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is an enzyme that catalyses glutamic acid into gamma aminobutyric acid. Anti-GAD antibodies are associated with different neurological and non-neurological disorders, but only a few cases of limbic encephalitis associated with anti-GAD antibodies have been reported in the literature, most of them non-paraneoplastic. Here, we report the case of a young female patient with a medical history of psoriasis who developed an acute onset and chronic evolution of anterograde amnesia, associated with drug-resistant epilepsy. Brain MRI showed hyperintensity in the medial temporal lobes and the biochemical studies revealed intrathecal synthesis of anti-GAD antibodies. Screening tests for tumours were negative. Despite antiepileptic drugs, intravenous immunoglobulins and immunosuppressive treatment, the patient did not show clinical improvement and one year later, she continues to present refractory temporal epilepsy and cognitive deficits.

Validation of the Spanish version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E).

INTRODUCTION: To translate and validate into Spanish (Spain) the screening instrument of major depressive episodes (MDEs), Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory in Epilepsy (NDDI-E), in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: A total of 121 outpatients, aged 18 years and older, with a diagnosis of epilepsy were included. The diagnosis of a current major depressive episode (MDE) was established with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). RESULTS: A diagnosis of current MDE was established in 20% of the patients with the MINI. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.89, with an internal consistency of 0.78. At a cutoff score >13, 22% of patients were considered to suffer from MDE with the NDDI-E (sensitivity: 84%; specificity: 78%; positive predictive value: 64.7%; and negative predictive value: 92.2%). DISCUSSION: The Spanish-Spain version of the NDDI-E appears to be a good screening instrument to identify MDE.

Endocrine and Growth Abnormalities in 4H Leukodystrophy Caused by Variants in POLR3A, POLR3B, and POLR1C.

CONTEXT: 4H or POLR3-related leukodystrophy is an autosomal recessive disorder typically characterized by hypomyelination, hypodontia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in POLR3A, POLR3B, POLR1C, and POLR3K. The endocrine and growth abnormalities associated with this disorder have not been thoroughly investigated to date. OBJECTIVE: To systematically characterize endocrine abnormalities of patients with 4H leukodystrophy. DESIGN: An international cross-sectional study was performed on 150 patients with genetically confirmed 4H leukodystrophy between 2015 and 2016. Endocrine and growth abnormalities were evaluated, and neurological and other non-neurological features were reviewed. Potential genotype/phenotype associations were also investigated. SETTING: This was a multicenter retrospective study using information collected from 3 predominant centers. PATIENTS: A total of 150 patients with 4H leukodystrophy and pathogenic variants in POLR3A, POLR3B, or POLR1C were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Variables used to evaluate endocrine and growth abnormalities included pubertal history, hormone levels (estradiol, testosterone, stimulated LH and FSH, stimulated GH, IGF-I, prolactin, ACTH, cortisol, TSH, and T4), and height and head circumference charts. RESULTS: The most common endocrine abnormalities were delayed puberty (57/74; 77% overall, 64% in males, 89% in females) and short stature (57/93; 61%), when evaluated according to physician assessment. Abnormal thyroid function was reported in 22% (13/59) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm pubertal abnormalities and short stature are the most common endocrine features seen in 4H leukodystrophy. However, we noted that endocrine abnormalities are typically underinvestigated in this patient population. A prospective study is required to formulate evidence-based recommendations for management of the endocrine manifestations of this disorder.

Lacosamide for refractory generalized tonic-clonic seizures of non-focal origin in clinical practice: A clinical and VEEG study.

•7 of 9 patients with GGE reduced ≥ 50% their tonic-clonic seizure frequency on LCM.•All 7 patients remained seizure free for > 1 year, and 2 of them for > 5 years.•In 2 of the 9 patients, both with Juvenile Absence Epilepsy, absences aggravated.•One aggravation consisted on a myoclonia and absence status, in a patient with no history of myoclonia.•VEEG paralleled clinical improvement but didn't change in a case of absence worsening.

One-year clinical experience of perampanel in Spain: a multicentre study of efficacy and tolerability.

Perampanel, a non-competitive antagonist of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptors, is the most recent antiepileptic drug available in Spain, marketed in January 2014. It was initially approved by the European Medicines Agency as adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures in patients 12 years and older, but recently also for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Although clinical trials provide essential information about the drug, they do not reflect daily clinical practice. This retrospective study shows the initial experience with perampanel in 11 Spanish hospitals during its first year post-commercialisation. All patients who started perampanel treatment were included, but efficacy and tolerability were only assessed in those patients with a minimum follow-up period of six months. In total, 256 patients were treated with perampanel before September 2014, and 253 had an observational period of one year. After six months, 216/256 patients (84%) continued on perampanel and 180/253 (71.1%) completed one year of treatment. The mean number of previous antiepileptic drugs used was 6.83 and the median number of concomitant antiepileptic drugs was 2. The mean perampanel dose was 7.06 mg and 8.26 mg at six and 12 months, respectively. The responder rate was 39.5% and 35.9% at both follow-up points, respectively. Adverse events were experienced by 91/253 (35.5%) and resulted in withdrawal in 37 (14.6%). The most common adverse events were somnolence, dizziness, and irritability. We found no significant differences between concomitant use of enzyme-inducing and non-inducing antiepileptic drugs, regarding efficacy, adverse effects, or withdrawals. Irritability was not influenced by concomitant use of levetiracetam, relative to other drugs, but was more frequently observed in patients with a history of psychiatric problems or learning disabilities.

Uncrossed epileptic seizures in Joubert syndrome.

Joubert syndrome and related disorders comprise a subgroup of ciliopathies defined by the presence of the 'molar tooth sign', a midbrain-hindbrain malformation identifiable by neuroimaging. Characteristically, the corticospinal tract and superior cerebellar peduncles do not decussate. Epileptic seizures are uncommon. We present a case of a 28-year-old man with a background of Leber's congenital amaurosis with nephronophthisis, requiring kidney transplantation, and mental retardation, who developed epileptic seizures consisting of a short muffled cry and involuntary shaking movements of the extremities beginning in the left upper limb; these episodes lasted several seconds and occurred in clusters. Simultaneous video-EEG recording showed an ictal pattern in the left frontal lobe. Brain MRI revealed the pathognomonic 'molar tooth sign'; diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-tractography showed a lack of decussation of both corticospinal tracts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that DTI-tractography has been used to uncover the anatomical substrate underlying the semiology of epileptic seizures.