Clinical categorisation and etiology of seizures in children admitted at a tertiary care centre in North Karnataka

Background: Seizure is a common problem evaluated in pediatric emergency departments. Seizure disorders are among the most frequent neurologic problems that occur in childhood. Around 4 to 10% of children experience at least one episode of seizure in the first 16 years of their life. Objectives: To study clinical and etiological profile of children presenting with seizures. Material and Methods: A total of 126 consecutive children aged 1 month to 18 years presenting with seizures defined as per international league against epilepsy classification, participated in this study. A detailed history was taken, and clinical examination was done, along with the investigation for the aetiology of seizures with routine and specific tests, computerized tomography (CT) scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) as and when needed. Results: In our present study, we recorded the highest incidence of seizures in the age group of 1year to 5 years. The incidence of seizures in our study was more in males, accounting for 73 cases (57.4%) while females were 53 cases (42.06%). Generalized seizures were the commonest, among them GTCS accounting for 88 cases (69.84). The identified major etiologic factors were febrile convulsions followed by CNS infections. Conclusion: The incidence of convulsions is highest in the age group of 1 month to 5 years and in males. The commonest type of seizure is generalized tonic-clonic (40.6%).The most common cause of convulsion is febrile seizures. Milestones were achieved normally in majority of cases.

Efficacy and safety of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy for refractory focal epilepsy / Eficácia e segurança do levetiracetam como terapia adjunta na epilepsia focal refratária

ABSTRACT Background: Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide and around 30% of these patients have refractory epilepsy, with potential consequences regarding quality of life, morbidity and premature mortality. Objective: The aim of treatment with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is to allow patients to remain without seizures, with good tolerability. Levetiracetam is a broad-spectrum ASM with a unique mechanism of action that differs it from other ASMs. It has been shown to be effective and safe for treating adults and children with epilepsy. Methods: This was a phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam in children and adults (4-65 years) as an adjuvant treatment for focal-onset seizures. It was conducted among 114 patients undergoing treatment with up to three ASMs. The primary efficacy analysis was based on the proportion of patients who achieved a reduction of ≥ 50% in the mean number of focal seizures per week, over a 16-week treatment period. The patients were randomized to receive placebo or levetiracetam, titrated every two weeks from 20 mg/kg/day or 1,000 mg/day up to 60 mg/kg/day or 3,000 mg/day. Results: Levetiracetam was significantly superior to placebo (p = 0.0031); 38.7% of the participants in the levetiracetam group and 14.3% in the control group shows reductions in focal seizures. Levetiracetam was seen to have a favorable safety profile and an adverse event rate similar to that of placebo. Conclusion: Corroborating the results in the literature, levetiracetam was shown to be effective and safe for children and adults with refractory focal-onset epilepsy.

RESUMO Introdução: A epilepsia afeta cerca de 50 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo e aproximadamente 30% desses pacientes apresentam epilepsia refratária, com possíveis consequências na qualidade de vida, morbidade e mortalidade prematura. Objetivo: O objetivo do tratamento com fármacos antiepilépticos (FAEs) é permitir que os pacientes permaneçam sem crises epilépticas com boa tolerabilidade. O levetiracetam (LEV) é um FAE de amplo espectro, com mecanismo de ação único, diferente dos demais e que demonstra ser eficaz e seguro no tratamento de adultos e crianças. Métodos: Estudo de fase III, multicêntrico, randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado por placebo avalia a eficácia e a segurança do LEV em crianças e adultos (4-65 anos) como tratamento adjuvante para crises de início focal em 114 pacientes já tratados com até três FAEs. A análise de eficácia primária foi baseada na proporção de pacientes que apresentaram redução ≥50% no número médio de crises epilépticas focais semanais, durante 16 semanas. Os pacientes foram randomizados para receber placebo ou LEV, titulado a cada duas semanas de 20 mg/kg/dia ou 1.000 mg/dia até 60 mg/kg/dia ou 3.000 mg/dia. Resultados: LEV foi significativamente superior ao placebo (p=0,0031), com 38,7% dos participantes no grupo LEV e 14,3% no grupo controle que apresentaram redução das crises focais. LEV apresenta bom perfil de segurança com eventos adversos semelhantes ao placebo. Conclusão: Corroborando com os resultados da literatura, o levetiracetam mostra-se eficaz e seguro para crianças e adultos com epilepsia focal refratária.

Vómito, sialorrea y regurgitación como signos clínicos de convulsiones epilépticas focales autonómicas en tres perros / Vomit, Sialorrhea and Regurgitation as Clinical Signs of Focal Autonomic Seizures in Three Dogs

Resumen Las convulsiones epilépticas focales se originan en una localización focal del cerebro con descargas eléctricas anormales que pueden suceder por distintas causas, y pueden ocurrir en un bajo porcentaje de animales; son signos diferentes a la típica mioclonía tónico-clónica. El objetivo del presente trabajo es exponer casos clínicos de perros que presentaron vómitos, sialorrea y regurgitación como signos clínicos de convulsiones epilépticas focales. Estos perros, además de presentar tales signos digestivos mencionados, no mostraron alteraciones reveladoras en los datos de laboratorio ni en los métodos complementarios de imágenes solicitados. Debido a la escasa respuesta terapéutica y al empeoramiento de la condición de los pacientes (pérdida de peso severa), luego de descartar causas periféricas de vómitos y/o regurgitación, se consideró la posibilidad de que el estímulo del vómito fuera central. Por lo tanto, se realizó un electroencefalograma (EEG). En todos los casos el trazado del EEG evidenció anomalías. Dada las condiciones clínicas descritas, se implementó el tratamiento con fenobarbital y la evolución de los tres casos clínicos fue favorable. Los perros con presencia de convulsiones epilépticas focales autonómicas pueden presentar una variada sintomatología clínica que depende de las regiones cerebrales dañadas que las producen. Por eso es importante tener en cuenta dentro de los diferenciales de signos clínicos que pueden tener origen central como el vómito, principalmente cuando la causa permanece sin ser diagnosticadas, la epilepsia focal autonómica.

Abstract Focal seizures originate in a focal location of the brain with abnormal electric discharges due to different causes and may occur in a low percentage of animals and their signs are different from the typical tonic-clonic myoclony. This work aims to disclose some clinical cases of dogs with vomit, sialorrhea and regurgitation as clinical signs of focal seizures. In addition to these digestive signs, the dogs did not show any noteworthy alteration in the laboratory test results, neither in the complementary imaging methods included in the study. Due to the scant therapeutic response and as the dogs got worse (a serious loss of weight), having ruling out any peripheral cause of vomit and/or regurgitation, the possibility of a central cause was considered. The dogs underwent an electroencephalogram (EEG) and in all cases the EEG results showed anomalies. Due to the described clinical conditions, a phenobarbital treatment was administered and the three cases clinical cases evolved positively. Dogs with focal autonomic seizures may show various clinical symptoms depending on the damaged brain regions they come from. Therefore, it is important to consider a central cause -focal autonomic epilepsy- for the differential clinical signs such as the vomit, mostly when there is not a clearly diagnosed cause.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome presenting with atypical findings: case study

PRES (posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome) is a syndrome characterized by headache, confusion, seizures and altered mental status. A 26 years old woman came to emergency department with a history of hypertension, blurred vision and seizures. She was diagnosed as a G3P2L1 at 29 weeks + 1 day with IUGR with preeclampsia associated with deranged kidney functions later complicated by development of PRES. Patient underwent emergency LSCS and was kept on mechanical ventilator as condition worsened during immediate post-operative period. Dialysis was also done to regulate urea and creatinine levels. Patient was treated with anti-hypertensive, anti-epileptics, antibiotics, intravenous fluids and continuous monitoring of blood pressure. Patient’s condition improved gradually, and her discharge was planned. PRES is a condition, if managed in initial phase can lead to early recovery and reduce mortality.

Nuevos fármacos antiepilépticos / New antiepileptic drugs

Los fármacos antiepilépticos constituyen el tratamiento inicial en pacientes con epilepsia. Los antIepilépticos producidos después del año 2000 se conocen como fármacos de tercera generación. Estas drogas ofrecen nuevos mecanismos de acción y una farmacocinética más favorable, minimizando efectos adversos o interacciones medicamentosas. Las drogas de amplio espectro como brivaracetam y clobazam son una buena opción en casos de crisis generalizadas y poseen un grado de tolerabilidad muy aceptable. Los nuevos antiepilépticos bloqueadores de canales de sodio, como lacosamida y eslicarbazepina tienen un perfil de efectos adversos más favorable que los bloqueadores de sodio de primera o segunda generación. Estos nuevos medicamentos pueden utilizarse en pacientes con epilepsia de difícil control. Cannabidiol y fenfluramina son muy útiles en el tratamiento del síndrome de Dravet o Lennox Gastaut. La Alopregnenolona y ganaxolona demuestran buena eficacia en casos de estado epiléptico y podrían en el futuro cercano tener un papel importante en este escenario clínico.

Antiepileptic drugs are the first treatment option in patients with epilepsy. Drugs developed after 2000 are known as third generation antiepileptic drugs. These medications offer new mechanisms of action and favorable pharmacokinetics, decreasing the occurrence of side effects and drug-drug interactions. Broad spectrum antiepileptic drugs, such as brivaracetam and clobazam are good choices for generalized tonic colonic seizures and are well tolerated.New sodium channel blockers such as lacosamide and eslicarbazepine, have a more "benign" side effect profile than the first or second generation of sodium channel blockers. These new drugs are useful therapies in patients with epilepsy of difficult control. Cannabidiol and fenfluramine are useful in the treatment of Dravet or Lennox Gastaut syndrome. Allopregnenolona and ganaxolone showed good efficacy in status epilepticus and could play an important future role in this clinical scenario.

Electroclinical characteristics of epilepsy children with midline epileptiform discharges related epileptic negative myoclonus as the first symptom / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the electroclinical findings in epilepsy children with epileptic negative myoclonus (ENM) restricted to the lower limb as the first seizure type.@*Methods@#Each retrieved electroencephalogram record performed between March 2011 and March 2018 at the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital was searched with "midline" . There were 302 records of 175 patients with "benign" or "functional" midline spikes. A retrospective review of each patient′s hospital record was performed. Thirteen patients had ENM restricted to the lower limb as the first seizure type. The clinical and electroencephalogram characteristics of them were analyzed.@*Results@#Thirteen patients manifested ENM restricted to the lower limb as the first seizure type, diagnosed as benign childhood focal epilepsy with vertex spikes (BEVS). Six patients had ENM as the first and only seizure type during the short-time follow-up. Among them, there were 1 male and 5 females. The age at seizure onset was (2.5±0.7) years. One of them had electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES) identified on electroencephalogram at theage of 4 years and 8 months. The last follow-up age was (3.8±1.5) years. The remaining 7 patients developed nocturnal focal motor seizures. Among them, there were 4 males and 3 females. The age at seizure onset was (3.5±0.7) years. Two of them were diagnosed as BEVS evolving into benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) and 5 were diagnosed as BEVS concurring with BECTS. The age at focal seizures was (4.1±0.6) years. The interval ranged from 1 month to 1 years. Six of 7 patients had electrical ESES with the age of (5.2±1.0) years. All had developmental regression, further diagnosed as atypical benign partial epilepsy (ABPE). The median age at last follow-up was 5.9 years. Five of 13 patients had repeated electroencephalogram records at our apartment, showing that epileptiform discharges in midline regions were significantly reduced either in frequency or amplitude with the improvement of ENM restricted to the lower limb and that independent epileptiform discharges in Rolandic regions from midline regions were noticed with the onset of nocturnal focal seizures.@*Conclusions@#ENM restricted to the lower limb has a close association with vertex (midline) epileptiform discharges. ENM restricted to the lower limb as the first seizure type is a peculiar phenomenon of BEVS. Some patients could evolve into BECTS or overlap with BECTS, and further into ABPE. The age of seizure onset in BEVS with ENM restricted to the lower limb as the first symptom is a little earlier than in BECTS. Ignorance of the close association between midline spikes and ENM restricted to the lower limb may lead to misdiagnosis of these patients.

Caracterización de pacientes con Epilepsia Rolándica e identificación de factores de riesgo de evolución atípica / Characterization of Patients with Rolandic Epilepsy and Recognition of Risk Factors for an Atypical Course

La Epilepsia Rolándica (ER) o Epilepsia con espigas centrotemporales, es la epilepsia idiopática más frecuente, focal autolimitada, de buena evolución. Debuta entre los 3 a 13 años, con crisis estereotipadas durante el sueño, al inicio o al despertar, focales motoras y somatosensoriales. El electroencefalograma (EEG) muestra una base normal con actividad epileptiforme interictal centrotemporal, con espigas con escaso desarrollo de onda lenta, uni o bilaterales. Se describe en los últimos años una forma atípica de ER (ERA), asociando otros tipos de crisis, que responden peor a tratamiento, manteniendo crisis, con complicaciones neuropsicológicas asociadas y deterioro del EEG, observándose en algunos casos, actividad, continua o casi continua en sueño. El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar a los pacientes con ER que se controlan en Red Salud UC-Christus y describir la presencia de posibles factores de riesgo asociados a la evolución atípica de la ER. 16 pacientes con ER típica y otros 6 con ERA, ambos grupos edad promedio 6 años al debut presentación, de predominio sexo masculino, la mayoría con buen rendimiento escolar y examen neurológico normal. En ER, crisis de predominio focales y base de EEG 62% normal. EEG entre ocasional y muy frecuentes descargas epileptiformes. En ERA, solo un 33% base normal, y predominio crisis generalizadas. Mayoría evoluciona con descargas EEG contínuas o casi continuas en sueño No-REM. Hubo peor respuesta a FAEs en ERA. Concluimos que este estudio es concordante con lo descrito en la literatura actual para pacientes con ER y ERA, por lo que recomendamos considerar la presencia de posibles factores indicadores, iniciales o durante la evolución, de formas atípicas de ER. Palabras Clave: Epilepsia Rolándica, Epilepsia Rolándica atípica, Factores de riesgo de evolución atípica, Espigas centrotemporales, Crisis epilépticas focales.

Abstract: Rolandic Epilepsy (ER) or epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, is a focal and selflimited epilepsy and it is the most frequent and well-recognized idiopathic epilepsy. It is characterized by an age of presentation between 3 and 13 years, with stereotyped seizures during sleep, at the beginning or on awakening, which can be focal, motor and sensory. The electroencephalogram shows a normal base with interictal epileptiform activity, centrotemporal spikes with poor slow wave development, which can be unilateral o bilateral. In recent years, an atypical presentation of Rolandic Epilepsy (ERA) has been described, with presence of other types of seizures, with poor response to treatment, continued seizures and asso- ciated neuropsychological complications and deterioration of the electroencephalogram, in some cases with continuous or almost continuous activity during sleep. Our work aims to characterize the patients that are controlled in the Red Salud UC-Christus and to describe the presence of possible risk factors associated with the atypical evolution of Rolandic Epilepsy. We studied 16 patients with typical ER and other 6 with ERA, both groups with an age average of 6 years at time of debut presentation, more frequent in males, most with good school performance and normal neurological examination. In ER there were focal prevalence seizures and 62% had an EEG with a normal base. The EEG showed occasional to very frequent epileptiform discharges. In ERA, only 33% of the EEG had a normal base, and it most frequently showed generalized seizure. Most of the patients followed up with continuous or nearly continuous discharges in the EEG during REM sleep. There was worse response to FAEs in ERA. We conclude that this study is consistent with that described in the current literature for patients with ER and ERA, we recommend physicians to consider the presence of possible initial of belated indicators of atypical forms of ER.Key words: Rolandic Epilepsy, atypical Rolandic Epilepsy, risk factors of atypical evolution, centrotemporal spikes, focal seizures.

Benign focal seizures of adolescence and neuropsychological findings in patients from community / Crises focais benignas do adolescente: disfunção neuropsicológica leve em pacientes da comunidade

RATIONALE: Benign focal seizures of adolescence (BFSA) described by Loiseau et al in 1972, is considered a rare entity, but maybe underdiagnosed. Although mild neuropsychological deficits have been reported in patients with benign epilepsies of childhood, these evaluations have not so far been described in BFSA. The aim of this study is to evaluate neuropsychological functions in BFSA with new onset seizures (<12 months). METHODS: Eight patients with BFSA (according to Loiseau et al, 1972, focal or secondarily tonic clonic generalized seizures between the ages of 10-18 yrs., normal neurologic examination, normal EEG or with mild focal abnormalities) initiated in the last 12 months were studied between July 2008 to May 2009. They were referred from the Pediatric Emergency Section of the Hospital Universitário of the University of Sao Paulo, a secondary care regionalized facility located in a district of middle-low income in Sao Paulo city, Brazil. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institution. All patients performed neurological, EEG, brain CT and neuropsychological evaluation which consisted of Raven's Special Progressive Matrices - General and Special Scale (according to different ages), Wechsler Children Intelligence Scale-WISC III with ACID Profile, Trail Making Test A/B, Stroop Test, Bender Visuo-Motor Test, Rey Complex Figure, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test-RAVLT, Boston Naming Test, Fluency Verbal for phonological and also conceptual patterns - FAS/Animals and Hooper Visual Organization Test. For academic achievement, we used a Brazilian test for named "Teste do Desempenho Escolar", which evaluates abilities to read, write and calculate according to school grade. RESULTS: There were 2 boys and 6 girls, with ages ranging from 10 yrs. 9 m to 14 yrs. 3 m. Most (7/8) of the patients presented one to two seizures and only three of them received antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Six had mild EEG focal abnormalities and ...

INTRODUÇÃO: Crises focais benignas do adolescente (CFBA) descritas por Loiseau et al. em 1972, são consideradas raras, mas podem ser subdiagnosticadas. Déficits neuropsicológicos leves foram relatados em pacientes com epilepsias benignas da infância, mas até o momento tais avaliações não foram descritas na CFBA. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar as funções neuropsicológicas na CFBA de início recente (<12 meses). MÉTODOS: Oito pacientes com CFBA (segundo Loiseau et al. 1972, caracterizada por crises focais ou secundariamente tonico-clonico-generalizadas entre as idades de 10 a 18 anos), iniciadas nos últimos 12 meses, com exame neurológico normal, EEG normal ou com anormalidades focais, tomografia de crânio normal no período de Julho de 2008 a Maio de 2009. Os pacientes foram encaminhados do Setor de Emergência Pediátrica do Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo, que é hospital de atendimento secundário regionalizado localizado em um distrito de classe média da cidade de São Paulo, SP. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética da Instituição. Todos pacientes realizaram exame neurológico, EEG e tomografia de crânio. A avaliação neuropsicológica consistiu dos seguintes testes: Matrizes Progressivas Especiais do Raven - Escala Geral e Especial (de acordo com as diferentes idades), Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para crianças - WISC III - com perfil ACID, Teste Trail Making A/B, Teste de Stroop, Teste Visuo-Motor de Bender, Figura Complexa de Rey, Teste de Aprendizado Auditivo Verbal de Rey - RAVLT, Teste de Nomeação de Boston, Teste de Fluência Verbal para padrões fonológicos e conceptuais-FAS/Animais e Teste de Organizacão Visual de Hooper. Para o desempenho escolar, foi usado o teste brasileiro chamado "Teste do Desempenho Escolar", que avalia as habilidades de leitura, escrita de acordo com o grau de escolaridade. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados seis pacientes do sexo feminino e dois, do masculino, com idades variando de 10 ...

Etiology,Clinical and Electroencephalogram Characteristics and Prognosis of Infantile Spasms with Focal Seizures / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the characteristics of etiology,clinical,electroencephalogram(EEG) and prognosis of infantile spasms(IS) with focal seizures(FS).Methods The significance of age onset,seizure patterns and atteration,etiology,video-EEG(VEEG) and evolution of FS correlating to epileptic spasms(ES),which occurred in 12 cases with IS by means of clinical observation,cranial CT or MRI,VEEG monitory and follow up were investigated.Twelve cases were divided into group A,B,C according to the stages of FS occurring prece-ding,coinciding and following ES.Results Ten cases with IS were identified from focal cortical dysplasia,tuberous scleroses complex,temporal lobe cyst or scleroses and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and others.Clinical manifestation presented FS at certain times during the course of the disease,and other characteristics of frequent attacks,asymmetric spasms or tonic spasms,some atypical seizures in the eyes and the head,motionless staring and focal motor seizures and other.The correlation of ES to FS occurred during one ictal episode as follows:FS→ES(6 cases),ES→FS→ES(1 case),ES→FS(3 cases).FS appeared more frequently,atypical,predominantly involving ocular,facial,oral movement or generalized convulsion,migrating or alternating seizures,associated with epileptic discharges of posterior parietal-occipital and parietal-temporal-occipital origins in group A and early period of group B;whereas in the late period of group B and group C,FS occurred less frequently and more stable,presenting complex partial seizures or secondarily generalized seizures originated mainly from frontal and surrounding areas in the lateralized or bilateral hemispheres.Regarding the natural evolution and development of IS,2 cases with early FS developed into IS;6 cases with IS evolved into Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or symtomatic generalized epilepsy,4 cases got into FS,1 case maintained in a peculiarly epileptic state with FS as well as ES until the operation at 4.5 years old,and the other case was not identified clearly.Conclusions IS coincided with FS is a special kind of aged-related FS associated with secondarily generalized seizures and epileptic encephalopathy.The multiple etiology,seizure patterns,ictal-interictal EEG,clinical evolution and prognosis of the disorder,indicate a complicated interaction of the immature cortico-subcortical abnormalities in the critical developmental period and thereafter,can be identified as a peculiar form of clinical epileptic syndrome.