Stereo-EEG features of temporal and frontal lobe seizures with loss of consciousness.

The loss of consciousness (LOC) during seizures is one of the most striking features that significantly impact the quality of life, even though the neuronal network involved is not fully comprehended. We analyzed the intracerebral patterns in patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy, both with and without LOC. We assessed the localization, lateralization, stereo electroencephalography (SEEG) patterns, seizure duration, and the quantification of contacts exhibiting electrical discharge. The degree of LOC was quantified using the Consciousness Seizure Scale. Thirteen patients (40 seizures) with focal drug-resistant epilepsy underwent SEEG. In cases of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE, 6 patients and 15 seizures), LOC occurred more frequently in seizures with mesial rather than lateral temporal lobe onset. On the other hand, in cases of frontal lobe epilepsy (7 patients; 25 seizures), LOC was associated with pre-frontal onset, a higher number of contacts with epileptic discharge compared to the onset count and longer seizure durations. Our study revealed distinct characteristics during LOC depending on the epileptogenic zone. For temporal lobe seizures, LOC was associated with mesial seizure onset, whereas in frontal lobe epilepsy, seizure with LOC has a significant increase in contact showing epileptiform discharge and a pre-frontal onset. This phenomenon may be correlated with the broad neural network required to maintain consciousness, which can be affected in different ways, resulting in LOC.

Causes and prognosis of adults experiencing a first seizure in adulthood: A pilot cohort study conducted in five countries in Latin America.

There are limited data on first seizure (FS) among adults in low and middle-income countries. We describe findings from a prospective cohort study involving 180 adults presenting with seizures in emergency departments in five Latin American countries. Overall, 102 participants (56.7%) had acute symptomatic seizures (ASyS) while 78 (43.3%) had unprovoked seizures (UPS). Among patients with ASyS, 55 (53.9%) had structural causes, with stroke (n = 24, 23.5%), tumor (n = 10, 9.8%), and trauma (n = 3, 3%) being the most frequent. Nineteen patients (18.6%) had infectious causes, including four (4%) with meningoencephalitis, three (3%) neurocysticercosis, and two (2%) bacterial meningoencephalitis. Twenty patients (19.6%) had metabolic/toxic evidence, including four (4%) with uremic encephalopathy, two (2%) hyponatremia, and three (3%) acute alcohol intoxication. Immune dysfunction was present in seven (7%) patients and neurodegenerative in two (2%). Among participants with UPS, 45 (57.7%) had unknown etiology, 24 (30.7%) had evidence of structural disorders (remote symptomatic), four (5%) were related to infectious etiology (>7 days before the seizure), and five (6.4%) had genetic causes. During the 3- and 6-month follow-up, 29.8% and 14% of patients with UPS, respectively, experienced seizure recurrence, while 23.9% and 24.5% of patients with ASyS had seizure recurrence. Longer follow-up is necessary to assess seizure recurrence for patients with ASyS after the acute cause is resolved and to determine the 10-year risk of recurrence, which is part of the definition of epilepsy. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: We monitored 180 adults who presented with their first seizure in emergency departments across five Latin American countries. Among these patients, 57% had acute symptomatic seizures, with structural causes such as stroke (23%), infection (17%), or tumor (10%) being more prevalent. Among the 43% with unprovoked seizures, 58% showed no identifiable acute cause, while 6.4% were due to genetics. Within 3 months after their initial seizure, 26.6% of individuals experienced a second seizure, with 11.9% continuing to have seizures in Months 3-6. Between Months 3 and 6, an additional 20% of patients encountered a second seizure. Research is needed to better understand the cause and prognosis of these patients to improve outcomes.

Dancing epilepsy: A stereo encephalography case report.

Ictal semiology is essential to identify the epileptogenic zone (EZ), especially in drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRE), as its accurate identification determines the surgical prognosis. Dancing is highly unusual ictal semiology, and its underlying neural networks remain somehow unclear since both temporal and frontal lobe (FL) have been implicated in its generation. We present a 21-year-old male with DRE characterized by dancing seizures. Homemade videos were obtained. Through a non-invasive pre-surgical evaluation, the epileptogenic zone was localized within a gross lesion in the left FL. Using stereo electroencephalography (SEEG), we successfully identified the ictal-onset zone in the mesial middle, inferior, and orbito-frontal cortex, with rapid propagation of ictal activity extending backward and laterally to the precentral regions. Subsequently, a left frontal middle and inferior gyrectomy was performed, resulting in seizure freedom for the patient. Pathology results revealed a mild malformation of cortical development with oligodendroglial hyperplasia (MOGHE). Atypical seizure semiology, such as dancing, provides an interesting starting point for the analysis of the areas involved in the EZ. Further intracranial recordings are required to fully comprehend the underlying networks and interactions of cerebral areas during dancing seizures.

Are brain MRI abnormalities associated with the semiology of functional seizures?

PURPOSE: To investigate whether radiologically apparent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities are associated with the functional seizure (FS) semiology. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of FS at the epilepsy centers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Aichi Medical University Hospital, Japan; University of Michigan, USA; University of California, Los Angeles, USA; Emory University School of Medicine, USA; and Hospital el Cruce, Argentina, were studied. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included; 77 (77%) had motor functional seizures. Lobar location of brain abnormality did not have an association with the semiology (p = .83). There was no significant difference between ictal behaviors in patients with frontal or parietal lesions compared to those with temporal or occipital lesions. CONCLUSION: There were no associations between functional seizure ictal behaviors and locations of the radiologically apparent brain MRI abnormalities. Further studies are needed to evaluate the underpinnings of varying behaviors in FS.

Comorbid impulsivity after one year of epilepsy surgery.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) are frequently observed before and after epilepsy surgery. Impulsivity, defined as behaviors that are poorly conceived, are also frequent among patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of comorbid impulsivity in patients with DRE after one year of epilepsy surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent epilepsy surgery for DRE and completed the postsurgical assessment protocol one year after surgery were included. All patients underwent a presurgical protocol comprising of neurological, psychiatric, neuropsychological, video-EEG and MRI assessments. The psychiatric evaluation was performed before and one year after surgery using SCID-I, SCID-II, GAF scale of DSM IV, and Beck Depression Inventory II. One year after surgery, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11, and Engel classification of seizures, were administered. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were included in this study, 21 women (55.3%) and 17 men (44.7%), mean age 36 years (SD = 9.4). Higher impulsivity was associated with a worse epilepsy seizure outcome (p < 0.05), one year after surgery. According to the multiple linear regression analysis, a worse epilepsy seizure outcome was associated with higher levels of nonplanning impulsivity (p < 0.05) (p < 0.05, ß -0.5, r2 0.25). The GAF score was negatively associated with motor score (p < 0.05, ß -0.584, r2 0.42) and with the total BIS-11 score (p < 0.05, ß -0.557, r2 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Impulsivity has been associated with a worse post-surgical seizure outcome. Larger studies about impulsivity might confirm these preliminary findings.

Differential Semiology Based on Video Electroencephalography Monitoring Between Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures and Temporal Lobe Epileptic Seizures.

BACKGROUND: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) are disruptive changes in behavior without ictal correlate of epileptic activity and high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity. Differential diagnosis is difficult particularly with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), which is also associated with high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity. Although video electroencephalography is the gold standard for differential diagnosis, clinical semiology analysis may help the clinician in general medical practice. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the differential semiology, based on video electroencephalography, between PNESs and TLE seizures was analyzed. METHODS: The video electroencephalography of patients with diagnosis of PNES and TLE were reviewed and compared between groups. Clinical semiology of all episodes recorded by video electroencephalography in each patient was analyzed and classified in accordance with the presence of behavioral arrest, motor hyperkinetic activity, impaired awareness, aura, and automatisms. Chi square test and binary logistic regression were determined. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with PNES (32 ± 11 y) and 34 with TLE (32 ± 12 y) were included. Female patients were predominant in the PNES group (P < 0.05). Mean time duration of episodes was 6.8 ± 10 minutes in PNES and 1.6 ± 0.8 minutes in TLE (P < 0.05). Impaired awareness (odds ratio = 24.4; 95% confidence interval = 3.79 -157.3, P < 0.01), automatisms (odds ratio = 13.9; 95% confidence interval = 2.1- 90.5, P < 0.01), and shorter duration of the events (odds ratio = 2.261, 95% confidence interval = 1.149 - 4.449, P = 0.018) were found as independent factors for detecting TLE seizures comparing PNESs. CONCLUSION: Clinical semiology analysis may orientate the differential diagnosis in general medical practice, between PNESs and TLE seizures. Further studies comparing PNES semiology with other subtypes of epilepsies may complete these preliminary findings.

A comprehensive review of epilepsy in the Arab world.

PURPOSE: We conducted a comprehensive review of the epidemiology of epilepsy in the Arab world. METHODS: Epidemiological literature about epilepsy from 22 countries of the Arab League was searched in French and English using several keywords (specific and wider) and combinations, individually for each country. The search was conducted on Google first and then on PubMed. The results are presented as counts, proportions, and medians along with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Unpaired t-test with unequal variance and regressions were performed, altogether and individually, for lifetime and active epilepsy prevalence as well as incidence. RESULTS: Google provided 21 prevalence, four camp and nine incidence estimates while PubMed provided ten such estimates; none of them was identified by Google. No epidemiological data about epilepsy was found from 10/22 countries. Excluding pediatric studies, 13 prevalence estimates from six countries were identified. Including pediatric studies, 21 estimates from nine countries were found. Median lifetime and active epilepsy prevalence were 7.5/1000 (95% CI 2.6-12.3, range 1.9-12.9) and 4.4/1000 (95% CI 2.1-9.3, range 2.1-9.3), respectively, excluding pediatric studies (1984-2014, N=244081). Median incidence was 56.0/100,000 (n=9, N=122484, 95% CI 13.7-147.9, range 10.4-190). CONCLUSION: The fact that no epidemiological data about epilepsy is available in the public domain for almost one half of all Arab countries offers opportunities for future research. This thorough review of existing literature demonstrates a prevalence of epilepsy three times higher than previously reported for this region. The median incidence is similar to other regions of the world, e.g. North America. Google yielded additional valuable sources not indexed in PubMed and provided pertinent references more quickly.

Análisis video-electroencefalográfico de crisis epilépticas con inicio ictal de difícil lateralización, en epilepsia temporal mesial / Video-electroencephalographic analysis of epileptic seizures with ictal onset of difficult lateralization, in mesial temporal epilepsy

El propósito del trabajo fue analizar las características clínicas y electrofisiológicas de pacientes que presentaron crisis originadas en ambas regiones temporales en los registros de Video- EEG de scalp. Del total de la población con epilepsia temporal mesial (ET), resistente a las drogas, que ingresó a la Unidad de Video-EEG del Hospital Municipal Ramos Mejía y del Hospital de Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce Dr. Néstor C. Kirchner, desde marzo de 2009 a marzo de 2014 (n=150), se seleccionaron 9 pacientes con crisis originadas en ambas regiones temporales (40 crisis focales con compromiso de la conciencia). Del total de los pacientes con epilepsia del lóbulo temporal fármaco-resistente, candidatos a cirugía de la epilepsia, en un 6% de los casos resultó difícil lateralizar la zona epileptógena con el registro de Video-EEG de scalp.

Postoperative neuropsychological outcome in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in Argentina.

The aim of the present study is to compare pre- and postsurgical neuropsychological outcome in individuals suffering from mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), in order to evaluate prognosis. The selected thirty-five patients had medically mTLE and had undergone an anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL). Neuropsychological evaluation was performed in three different stages: before ATL, 6 months after resection, and a year afterwards. Neuropsychological protocol evaluated attention, verbal memory, visual memory, executive function, language, intelligence, and handedness. There was a significant improvement (P = 0.030) in the group with visual memory deficit after surgery, whereas no changes were observed across patients with verbal memory deficit. No changes were observed in language after surgery. Executive function showed significant improvement 6 months after surgery (P = 0.035). Postoperative outcome of cognitive impairments depends on baseline neuropsychological status of the patients with TLE. In our case series, deficits found in patients with mTLE after ATL did not result in a subjective complaint.

Psychotic disorders in Argentine patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy: a case-control study.

The issue of psychotic disorders in epilepsy has given rise to great controversy among professionals; however, there are not many studies in this area and the physiopathological mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the spectrum of psychotic disorders in an Argentine population with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (RTLE) and to determine the risk factors associated with psychotic disorders. Clinical variables of the epileptic syndrome were compared among a selected population with RTLE with and without psychotic disorders (DSM-IV/Ictal Classification of psychoses). Logistic regression was performed. Sixty-three patients with psychotic disorders (Psychotic Group, PG) and 60 controls (Control Group, CG) were included. The most frequent psychotic disorders were brief psychotic episodes (35%) (DSM-IV) and interictal psychosis (50%) (Ictal Classification). Risk factors for psychotic disorders were bilateral hippocampal sclerosis, history of status epilepticus, and duration of epilepsy greater than 20 years.

Crisis no epilépticas psicógenas / Non-Epileptic Psychogenic Seizures

Introducción: las crisis no epilépticas psicógenas (CNEP) constituyen un desafi ante problema diagnóstico, psicopatológico y psicoterapéutico en la práctica clínica de neurólogos, psiquiatras y psicólogos. Se defi nen como episodios que emulan crisis epilépticas sin que se acompañen de actividad eléctrica anómala en el sistema nervioso central. Objetivos: orientar el tratamiento adecuado de las CNEP en forma precoz y evitar los errores diagnósticos con sus consecuencias para el paciente y el sistema de salud. Método: se presentan los medios clínicos y paraclínicos para su diagnóstico, como los estudios de monitoreo por medio de videoelectroencefalografía (video-EEG), tomografía por emisión de fotón único (SPECT), medición de concentraciones de prolactina, a la par de la indicación de una completa historia clínica psiquiátrica. Conclusión: las CNEP constituyen un síndrome heterogéneo, en el que se debe realizar el diagnóstico del trastorno psicopatológico subyacente y de los factores predisponentes, precipitantes y perpetuadores para un adecuado tratamiento, por medio tanto de datos clínicos y semiológicos como de la video-EEG.

Introduction: Non-epileptic psychogenic seizures (NEPS) pose challenging diffi culties regarding diagnosis, psychopathology and psychotherapy in clinical practice for neurologists, psychiatrists and psychologists. They are defi ned as episodes that emulate a seizure but are not accompanied by abnormal electrical activity in the central nervous system. Objective: To engage in the appropriate treatment early on, avoiding misdiagnoses with dire consequences for the patient and the health system. Method: Clinical and paraclinical instruments for its diagnosis are presented, along with video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) testing, single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), measurement of prolactin levels and the intake of a complete psychiatric history. Conclusions: NEPS conform an heterogeneous syndrome. The diagnosis of the underlying psychopathological disorder as well as the assessment of the predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors is mandatory in order to achieve an adequate treatment.

Psychiatric disorders in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, with and without comorbid epilepsy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to describe similarities and differences in epidemiological, psychiatric and semiologic variables between patients with psychogenic none epileptic seizures (PNES) and comorbid epilepsy (mixed PNES), and patients with PNES without comorbid epilepsy (pure PNES). RESULTS: Forty-three patients with PNES diagnosed by Video-EEG were included. Twenty-four had pure PNES, and ninteen mixed PNES. Female population, age, duration of PNES, psychiatric institutionalization, psychopharmacotherapy, dissociative disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were significantly higher in the pure PNES patients. Suicide attempts, antiepileptic therapy, conversive, affective and personality disorders were frequent in both groups. In the analysis of seizure semiology, the total lack of responsiveness was significantly higher in the mixed PNES group. CONCLUSIONS: Pure PNES patients showed similarities and differences in the psychiatric profile, with a greater prevalence of dissociative disorders and PTSD, factors related to psychiatric severity.

Visual defects associated with vigabatrin: a study of epileptic argentine patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess visual alterations in a population of Argentine patients treated with the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin. METHODS: Twenty patients receiving vigabatrin and 15 patients receiving carbamazepine were examined with automated perimetry using a Humphrey 120-point full screening strategy. In addition, scotopic flash electroretinograms were performed. RESULTS: Of 20 patients treated with vigabatrin, two were unable to cooperate with testing. Of the remaining 18 patients, all but two showed at least one non-detected point inside the central 40 degrees of the visual field of each eye. Of the 15 carbamazepine-treated patients, three were unable to perform the study. None of the remaining 12 patients showed visual field defects. Both a- and b-wave amplitudes of the scotopic electroretinogram were significantly reduced in 12 patients receiving vigabatrin. CONCLUSIONS: Visual field defects among patients on vigabatrin therapy may occur with a higher frequency than previously recognized. The Humphrey 120-points full field screening test and electroretinography are useful tools to assess the visual dysfunction associated with vigabatrin.

Frecuentes interrogantes en relación al diagnóstico y el estudio de pacientes con epilepsia / Questions habitual in relation diagnosis and study patients with epilepsy

La epilepsia es una de las enfermedades neurológicas más frecuentes. Las crisis pueden presentar diferentes signos y síntomas, dependiendo de la zona cortical involucrada. Entre el 70 y 80 por ciento de las personas con epilepsia tienen un excelente control de las crisis. Aproximadamente un 20-30 por ciento de los pacientes desarrollarán una epilepsia crónica de difícil control, y en los que una alternativa terapéutica es la cirugía de la epilepsia. El diagnóstico de epilepsia es fundamentalmente clínico. La realización de los diferentes estudios complementarios, entre los que se encuentran los estudios neurofisiológicos y de neuroimágenes, resultan fundamentalmente en la definición del tipo de epilepsia y el síndrome epiléptico, para realizar el tratamiento adecuado y definir el pronóstico del paciente.

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis: cognitive function assessment in Hispanic patients.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to assess the cognitive function status in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis (TLE+HS) to determine their cognitive function profile and to correlate material-specific memory deficits with HS laterality diagnosed by MRI. METHODS: Seventy-one patients were assessed with a neuropsychological protocol that includes IQ, attention, handedness, verbal memory, visual memory, language, and the executive function. chi(2) and correlation tests were used. RESULTS: Memory impairment was found in 46 patients (66%): patients without any memory deficit (n=25), patients with verbal memory deficit (n=21), patients with visual memory deficit (n=17), patients with deficit for both types of memory (n=8). Correlation between MRI lesion and memory was 66%. Language was impaired in 33 patients (46%). Eighteen patients (25%) had a deficit of the executive function. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TLE+HS presented with a deficit in material-specific episodic memory correlating in large proportion with HS lateralization. We also found language and executive function impairments.

Resonancia magnetica y localización clínica y electroencefalográfica en la epilepsia focal / Magnetic resonance and clinical and electroencephalographical localization in focal epilepsy

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the method of choice to search for epileptogenic lesions. We correlated MRI findings with the epileptogenic zone (EZ) depicted by clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) data. We studied 400 clinical records of patients who had been submitted to MRI studies and we analyzed, retrospectively, their ictal semiology, EEG characteristics and response to treatment. They were classified into 3 groups: A) temporal lobe epilepsy, B) frontal lobe epilepsy and C) parieto-occipital epilepsy. We included 155 patients: Group A) 68 cases (43.9 per cent), 28 men (41.1 per cent), mean age 32 +/- 11 years old, abnormal IMR in 44 (64.7 per cent), refractory to treatment 48 (70.5 per cent). Group B) 68 cases (43.9 per cent), 38 men (55.8 per cent), mean age 30 +/- 15 years old, abnormal IMR in 26 (38.2 per cent), refractory to treatment 30 (44.1 per cent). Group C) 19 cases (12.2 per cent), 13 men (68.4 per cent), mean age 27 +/- 11 years old, abnormal IMR in 11 (57.8 per cent), refractory to treatment 12 (63.1 per cent). Results showed that there were higher possibilities of detecting lesions which correlate with EZ in temporal than in frontal or parieto-occipital lobes epilepsy. The chances to find abnormalities on the MRI were 5 times higher in refractory patients than in those who were non-refractory.