Carbamazepine monotherapy in epileptic out-patients.

The effect and side-effects of carbamazepine monotherapy have been studied retrospectively in 280 epileptic out-patients. The majority of these patients suffered from grand mal epilepsy, partial complex seizures or a combination of both seizure types. Side-effects, in 63% exanthema, led to withdrawal in 10% of the patients. Satisfactory effect of treatment, defined as reduction of seizure frequency by at least 75% or unchanged satisfactory seizure control, was seen in 76% of patients, most commonly those with grand mal. Deterioration was observed in 9% of patients. These results were independent of whether or not carbamazepine monotherapy was drug of first choice. Serum concentrations of carbamazepine, measured in 236 patients, were found to be within the therapeutic range in 72% and above the range in 22%. Our results, which we consider to represent 'normal daily life in an epilepsy out-patient clinic', are comparable with those of controlled prospective studies, but there was a considerably higher frequency of withdrawal due to side-effects.

Comparison of iothalamate meglumine, metrizamide and iodophendylate in cerebral ventriculography. A clinical, radiological and histopathological study in the rat.

Clinical, radiological and histopathological findings following cerebral ventriculography in the rat using the water-soluble contrast media iothalamate meglumine and metrizamide, and the oil-soluble iodophendylate are reported. Clinically, iothalamate meglumine caused convulsions, while there were no adverse reactions to the other media. Radiologically there was good visualizaiton of the ventricles with all media. Iodophendylate was retained in the ventricles for the duration of the experiment (up to 60 days), while the water-soluble media had disappeared within 20 minutes. Histologically there were no pathological changes attributable to the water-soluble media. Iodophendyalte led to enlargement of the ventricles, and macrophages containing oil were seen on the ependymal lining.

Malignancy grade and long-term survival in brain tumours of infancy and childhood.

281 histologically verified brain tumours in children were revised and reclassified according to degree of histological malignancy. Survival graphs based on 100 per cent follow-up after 15-40 years show that, of those who survived for more than 1 month after diagnosis and possible operation, 40 per cent were still alive more than 15 years later. There was a clear correlation between survival and degree of malignancy. Sixty-five per cent of those with tumours of malignancy grade I and only 3 per cent of those with malignancy grade IV were alive after 15 years.

Histological changes in the central nervous system following intraventricular administration of oil-soluble contrast media. An experimental study in the rat.

Following injections of iodophendylate (Pantopaque) in adult rats, the contrast medium was shown to be refrained in the dilated cerebral ventricles for at least 180 days. Histological examination revealed macrophages containing phagocytosed lipid on the ependymal lining of the ventricles, but there was no leukocytic reaction to retained or encysted contrast material. The macrophages were considered to be involved in the removal of iodophendylate. The irritative reaction in the normal central nervous system was limited, as opposed to the severe reactions previously reported in animals with inflammation of the brain and meninges.