Giant intracranial aneurysms: morphology and clinical presentation.

The purpose of this study was to correlate the morphology of giant intracranial aneurysms (GIA) with their clinical presentation. Eighty patients with GIA, 14 males and 66 females, were studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were made to test the associations between morphological and clinical features. The main locations of the unruptured GIA included the carotid cavernous segment, and for the ruptured GIA, the most frequent were the carotid supraclinoid and middle cerebral arteries. There was a significant association among communicating arteries (CA) of "bad" quality and presence of thrombus and calcification (TC). The risk of rupture is 8 times higher in patients with CA of "bad" quality and 11 times higher in patients without TC. GIA are more frequent in the cavernous segment. There is a high rupture risk in the middle cerebral artery. CA of "bad" quality are associated with TC. The rupture risk is significantly higher in patients without TC.

Radiculopathy due to iatrogenic fistula between subclavian artery and internal jugular vein.

Central venous cannulation is a routine procedure. We describe a rare complication of internal jugular vein catheterization leading to radiculopathy of the right upper arm. MRI of the neck showed compression of the spinal cord and C2-C7 roots by the engorged veins. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a fistula between subclavian artery and internal jugular vein. The fistula was successfully occluded by stent placement in the artery.

Propranolol Action in Chronically Unstable Generalized Epilepsy.

Chronically unstable generalized epilepsy (CUGE) is a disabling disease usually treated by ineffective association of drugs. Authors have devoted attention to calcium-dependent mechanisms of seizures. Calcium channel blockers have been used with success in the control of both experimental and clinical epilepsy. beta-Adrenergic blockers, such as propranolol hydrochloride (PR), had been described to be experimentally effective in the control of epilepsy in rats and chicks, due to its receptor-dependent calcium channel blocking and membrane-stabilizing actions. We used PR in this crossover, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Twelve patients with CUGE were enrolled and treated for 15 days with treatment A (20--40 mg PR bid) and treatment B (20--40 mg placebo); the difference in the total number of seizures in the two periods of treatment was compared. Patients treated with PR showed a 32.9% reduction (p < 0.05) in epileptic manifestations. The authors concluded that PR may be an effective adjunct therapy in CUGE and other forms of generalized epilepsy.

[Prevalence of epilepsy in Bakairi indians from Mato Grosso State, Brazil]. / Prevalência da epilepsia entre os índios Bakairi do estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of epilepsy in a population based sample: the Bakairi indians, who live on the banks of Paranatinga river in the central plateau of Mato Grosso state, Brazil. This population is composed of 483 inhabitants. The study was outlined in two stages, and the investigation was door-to-door in a total of 103 houses. The results of the instrument showed a sensitivity of 88% (CI- 95%, 84.9-93), specificity of 97.8% (CI-95, 95-98). The prevalence of active epilepsy was 12.4 per mil, and inactive was 6.2 per mil. This prevalence of the epilepsy was considered high probably due to some familial risk factor (p=0.04) among those Indians, while other factors were not important.

Assessment of the epilepsy treatment gap in two cities of south-east of Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the epilepsy treatment gap in Campinas and São Josédo Rio Preto, two cities in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: The treatment gap was estimated using the formula n1-n2/n1x100, where n1 was calculated using 1.86% prevalence and represented the number of individuals with epilepsy, while n2 represented the number of people who could be treated with an adult standard dose for a year utilizing the antiepileptic drugs supplied by the public health system. RESULTS: Our estimates revealed that in 2001, approximately 50% of the population with epilepsy was treated with the recommended antiepileptic medication. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a relevant percentage of patients with epilepsy are not untreated. Further epidemiological studies are needed to investigate the reasons for this treatment gap so that interventions can reduce this gap and improve the quality of life of patients with epilepsy.

Urban prevalence of epilepsy: populational study in São José do Rio Preto, a medium-sized city in Brazil.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of epilepsy in the urban population of São José do Rio Preto. This is a medium-sized city of 336000 inhabitants, located in the northwest of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: A cross-sectional epidemiological investigation with a randomized sample was performed in two phases, a screening phase and a confirmation of the diagnosis phase. The gold standard was a clinical investigation and neurological examination. The chi-square test was used in analysis of the results and p-value value < 0.05 was considered significant. Prevalence was calculated with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The study sample size was 17293 individuals, with distributions of gender, age, and race similar to the general population. The prevalence per 1000 inhabitants of epilepsy was 18.6, of these 8.2 were active, defined as at least one seizure within the last two years. The prevalence per 1000 inhabitants for the age groups (years) was 4.9 (04), 11.7 (514), 20.3 (1564) and 32.8 (65 or over). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of both accumulated and active epilepsy was elevated, comparable to other developing nations, in particular those of Latin America. However, the prevalence of epilepsy in childhood was low, whilst in aged individuals it was high similar to industrialized nations.

Oral and maxillofacial trauma in patients with epilepsy: prospective study based on an outpatient population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate oral and maxillofacial trauma caused by falls during epileptic seizures. METHOD: A prospective case-control study was carried out among patients recruited from both the Epileptic Outpatient Clinic and the Emergency Room of Hospital de Base during 2006. The study group was composed of patients with epilepsy that had been diagnosed by a specialist. Oral and maxillofacial trauma was diagnosed using a questionnaire together with physical and radiographic examinations. A control group was formed from non-epileptic relatives or neighbors of the patients. The two groups were compared with regard to the number and type of oral and maxillofacial trauma events suffered. Odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval, dependency analysis and the Pearson χ(2) test were used for statistical analysis, and the significance level was set at p≤0.05. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients with epilepsy (91 males; 57.3%) and 68 control individuals (28 males; 41.1%) were enrolled in the study. The frequencies of oromaxillary trauma in the study and control groups were 23.9% and 4.4%, respectively. Generalized tonic-clonic, generalized and non-classified seizures were strongly associated with trauma. The commonest lesions were fractures of dental tooth crowns (32.9%), followed by tooth avulsion (7.6%), tooth luxation (5%) and fracturing of prostheses in edentulous patients (3.8%). CONCLUSION: This work shows that injuries to the face and teeth are statistically more common in patients with epilepsy than in the general population, and that individuals who suffer seizures without aura are the most affected.

Emergency EEG: study of survival.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival rate according to the main findings of emergency electroencephalography (EEGs) of patients treated in a tertiary hospital. METHOD: In this prospective study, the findings of consecutive emergency EEGs performed on inpatients in Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil were correlated with survival utilizing Kaplan-Meyer survival curves. RESULTS: A total of 681 patients with an average age of 42 years old (1 day to 96 years) were evaluated, of which 406 were male. The main reasons for EEGs were epileptic seizures (221 cases), hepatic encephalopathy [116 cases of which 85 (73.3%) were men, p-value=0.001], status epilepticus (104 cases) and impaired consciousness (78 cases). The underlying disease was confirmed in 578 (84.3%) cases with 119 (17.5%) having liver disease [91 (76.0%) were men, p-value=0.001], 105 (15.4%) suffering strokes, 67 (9.9%) having metabolic disorders, 51 (7.5%) central nervous system infections and 49 (7.2%) epilepsy. In the three months following EEG, a survival rate of 75% was found in patients with normal, discreet slow activity or intermittent rhythmic delta activity EEGs, of 50% for those with continuous delta activity and generalized epileptiform discharges, and of 25% for those with burst-suppression, diffuse depression, and in alpha/theta-pattern coma. Death was pronounced immediately in patients with isoelectric EEGs. CONCLUSION: The main findings of EEGs, differentiated different survival rates and are thus a good prognostic tool for patients examined in emergencies.

Oral and maxillofacial trauma in patients with epilepsy: prospective study based on an outpatient population / Trauma oral e maxilofacial em pessoas com epilepsia: estudo prospectivo com base ambulatorial

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate oral and maxillofacial trauma caused by falls during epileptic seizures. METHOD: A prospective case-control study was carried out among patients recruited from both the Epileptic Outpatient Clinic and the Emergency Room of Hospital de Base during 2006. The study group was composed of patients with epilepsy that had been diagnosed by a specialist. Oral and maxillofacial trauma was diagnosed using a questionnaire together with physical and radiographic examinations. A control group was formed from non-epileptic relatives or neighbors of the patients. The two groups were compared with regard to the number and type of oral and maxillofacial trauma events suffered. Odds ratios with a 95 percent confidence interval, dependency analysis and the Pearson c² test were used for statistical analysis, and the significance level was set at p≤0.05. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients with epilepsy (91 males; 57.3 percent) and 68 control individuals (28 males; 41.1 percent) were enrolled in the study. The frequencies of oromaxillary trauma in the study and control groups were 23.9 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. Generalized tonic-clonic, generalized and non-classified seizures were strongly associated with trauma. The commonest lesions were fractures of dental tooth crowns (32.9 percent), followed by tooth avulsion (7.6 percent), tooth luxation (5 percent) and fracturing of prostheses in edentulous patients (3.8 percent). CONCLUSION: This work shows that injuries to the face and teeth are statistically more common in patients with epilepsy than in the general population, and that individuals who suffer seizures without aura are the most affected.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a relação da epilepsia sobre as ocorrências de trauma dento-alveolar e maxilofacial causados por quedas. MÉTODO: Estudo caso-controle prospectivo foi conduzido no ambulatório de epilepsia e do Pronto Atendimento do Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto-SP no ano de 2006. Pacientes do grupo caso foram diagnosticados pelo neurologista chefe (sênior) especialista em epilepsia e avaliados quanto ao trauma oral e maxilo-facial pelo pesquisador, por meio de questionário, exame clínico e radiográfico, por ordem de chegada. O grupo controle (GC) foi constituído incluindo indivíduos sem crises, que fossem familiares ou vizinhos próximos dos pacientes com diagnóstico de epilepsia. Intervalo de confiança 95 por cento, ODD, análise de dependência (ANADEP) e c² de Pearson foram utilizados para análise estatística e se adotou nível de significância de p≤0,05. RESULTADOS: Analisaram-se 159 pacientes com epilepsia, dos quais 91(57,3 por cento) masculinos e 68 do GC, dos quais 28 (41,1 por cento) masculinos. A frequência do trauma oro-maxilar em paciente com epilepsia foi 23,9 por cento e no GC foi de 4,4. As crises tônico-clônicas generalizadas, crises generalizadas e as não classificadas estão fortemente co-relacionadas ao trauma. Fraturas das coroas dentais (32,9 por cento), seguidas de avulsão dentária (7,6 por cento), luxação dentária (5 por cento) e fratura da prótese em pacientes edêntulos (3,8 por cento) foram as lesões mais encontradas. CONCLUSÃO: O trabalho mostra que os ferimentos na face e dentes são frequentes em pacientes com crises epilépticas quando comparados ao GC, sendo as pessoas com crises sem a aura as mais afetadas.

Emergency EEG: study of survival / EEG de urgência: taxa de sobrevivência

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival rate according to the main findings of emergency electroencephalography (EEGs) of patients treated in a tertiary hospital. METHOD: In this prospective study, the findings of consecutive emergency EEGs performed on inpatients in Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil were correlated with survival utilizing Kaplan-Meyer survival curves. RESULTS: A total of 681 patients with an average age of 42 years old (1 day to 96 years) were evaluated, of which 406 were male. The main reasons for EEGs were epileptic seizures (221 cases), hepatic encephalopathy [116 cases of which 85 (73.3 percent) were men, p-value=0.001], status epilepticus (104 cases) and impaired consciousness (78 cases). The underlying disease was confirmed in 578 (84.3 percent) cases with 119 (17.5 percent) having liver disease [91 (76.0 percent) were men, p-value=0.001], 105 (15.4 percent) suffering strokes, 67 (9.9 percent) having metabolic disorders, 51 (7.5 percent) central nervous system infections and 49 (7.2 percent) epilepsy. In the three months following EEG, a survival rate of 75 percent was found in patients with normal, discreet slow activity or intermittent rhythmic delta activity EEGs, of 50 percent for those with continuous delta activity and generalized epileptiform discharges, and of 25 percent for those with burst-suppression, diffuse depression, and in alpha/theta-pattern coma. Death was pronounced immediately in patients with isoelectric EEGs. CONCLUSION: The main findings of EEGs, differentiated different survival rates and are thus a good prognostic tool for patients examined in emergencies.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a taxa de sobrevivência (TS), segundo os principais achados de eletrencefalograma de urgência (E-EEG), dos pacientes atendidos nas emergências de hospital de alta complexidade. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo, por ordem de chegada, da correlação entre os achados de E-EEG, feitos nos pacientes à beira do leito, com TS, utilizando-se as curvas de sobrevidas de Kaplan Meyer no Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo/Brasil. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 681 pacientes, dos quais 406 (59,6 por cento) masculinos, com idade média de 42 anos (1 dia a 96 anos). As principais motivações para o E-EEG foram crises epilépticas (221 casos), encefalopatia hepática [(116 casos, dos quais 85 masculinos (73,3 por cento), p= 0,001]; estado de mal epiléptico 104 e rebaixamento de consciência 78. O diagnóstico da doença de base foi confirmado em 578 (84,3 por cento), sendo 119 (17,5 por cento) hepatopatia, dos quais 91 (76, por cento) masculinos, p= 0,001; 105 (15,4 por cento) acidente vascular encefálico; 67 (9,9 por cento) distúrbio metabólico; 51 (7,5 por cento) infecção do sistema nervoso central e 49 (7,2 por cento) epilepsia. TS de 75 por cento nos três primeiros meses foi encontrada nos pacientes com E-EEG com alentecimento discreto ou com atividade delta rítmica intermitente. TS por volta de 50 por cento nos três meses foi encontrado nos pacientes com E-EEG com delta contínuo, crítico e com descargas periódicas. A TS foi menor que 25 por cento nos dois primeiros meses após E-EEG, nos pacientes com E-EEG com surto/supressão, com depressão difusa e com comas alfa/teta e 0 por cento nos E-EEG iselétricos. CONCLUSÃO: O E-EEG, com seus principais achados, foi capaz de diferenciar as diversas taxas de sobrevivências na amostra estudada, constituindo-se, portanto, bom instrumento de prognóstico para pacientes atendidos nas unidades de emergência hospitalar.

Migração de 81 epilépticos entre as modalidades de trabalho, desemprego e aposentadoria: três anos de seguimento ambulatorial / Migration in different sorts of work, unemployment and retirement of 81 epileptic patients: 3 years of ambulatory follow-up

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as migrações dos epilépticos entre modalidades de trabalho remunerado (formal e informal), o não remunerado e, também, os desempregados e aposentados. Foram analisados evolutivamente (coort) 81 pacientes com epilepsia, do Ambulatório de Epilepsia do Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto, SP. As percentagens de epilépticos em cada uma das modalidades em março 1996 foram comparadas com as percentagens obtidas por ocasião da última avaliação no transcorrer de 3 anos. A percentagem de epilépticos nas mesmas modalidades não sofreram mudanças estatisticamente significantes. Entretanto, houve importantes migrações entre diferentes modalidades de trabalho, para o desemprego e para aposentadoria. A presente pesquisa mostra a tendência de migração de pacientes epilépticos para diferentes modalidades de trabalho de menor qualificação e segurança social ou para aposentadoria precoce.

Duração e faixa etária da epilepsia e suas correlações com trabalho: estudo prospectivo ambulatorial em 379 epilépticos / Epilepsy length and years old relationship with work: a prospective ambulatory study in 379 epileptic patients

O objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar, prospectivamente, a relação da duração de epilepsia ativa sobre o trabalho de 379 pacientes do ambulatório do Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto. A duração da epilepsia dos pacientes foi subdividida em 5 faixas de tempo e a idade em 3 faixas etárias. A duração da epilepsia, não levando em conta a idade do paciente, não prejudicou a capacidade laborativa dos epilépticos. No entanto, as epilepsias recentes (0 a 5 anos de duração) causaram mais perda de trabalho nos epilépticos mais jovens (14 a 29 anos de idade) que nos epilépticos adultos e idosos.

As síndromes e crises epilépticas e suas relaçoes com trabalho: estudo prospectivo ambulatorial de 412 pacientes / Epileptic syndromes and seizures and their relationship with work: a prospective ambulatory study in 412 epileptic patients

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar, prospectivamente, a influência das síndromes e crises epilépticas sobre o trabalho com base em uma amostra de 412 pacientes do ambulatório do Hospital de Base de Sao José do Rio Preto. Observou-se que, as síndromes epilépticas influenciaram significantemente (p=0,001) a capacidade laborativa dos pacientes, sendo que os pacientes com síndromes idiopáticas foram os menos comprometidos, enquanto que os sintomáticos os mais prejudicadas. Os tipos de crises, também, influenciaram a capacidade laborativa dos pacientes (p=0,016), na seguinte forma: as crises generalizadas nao convulsivas nao interferiram; as parciais simples e as nao classificadas prejudicaram moderadamente; por outro lado, as parciais com evoluçao para complexa e para generalizaçao tônico-clônica foram as que mais tiraram o paciente do trabalho. A severidade das crises também foi analisada

Síndrome de Aicardi: relato de caso / Aicardi syndrome: case report

Relatamos um caso de síndrome de Aicardi completa em criança do sexo feminino de 2 meses de idade com defeitos lacunares da coróide, espasmos em flexäo, agenesia de corpo caloso e alteraçöes eletrencefalográficas do tipo hipsarritmia assimétrica e alterna atendida no Serviço de Neuropediatria e Neurofisiologia clínica do Hospital de Base de Säo José do Rio Preto, SP.

Prevalência da epilepsia entre os índios Bakairi do estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil / Prevalence of epilepsy in Bakairi indians from Mato Grosso State, Brazil

O objetivo deste estudo, tipo corte transversal, com base populacional foi determinar a prevalência da epilepsia, mediante delineamento em duas etapas, entre os índios Bakairi que residem às margens do rio Paranatinga, no planalto central no Estado do Mato Grosso/Brasil. O estudo foi feito de porta-a-porta em 103 casas, abrangendo 483 dos 546 indivíduos que aí vivem. A sensibilidade do instrumento foi de 88,8 por cento (IC-95 por cento, 84,9-93) a especificidade de 97,8 por cento (IC-95 por cento, 95-98), a prevalência de epilepsia ativa foi de 12,4ë e a inativa, de 6,2ë. A prevalência de epilepsia foi considerada alta, provavelmente em consequência do fator de risco familial (p=0,04), uma vez que outros näo foram relevantes

Assessment of the epilepsy treatment gap in two cities of south-east of Brazil

OBJETIVO: Estimar a lacuna de tratamento em epilepsia nas cidades de Campinas e São José do Rio Preto, interior do Estado de São Paulo. MÉTODO: Estimamos a lacuna de tratamento através da fórmula n1-n2/n1x100, onde se utiliza o número de pessoas com epilepsia, calculado pela prevalência (n1), e a quantidade de pessoas que podem ser tratadas com a dose padrão para adultos das DAEs, distribuídas no período de um ano na localidade (n2). Usamos a prevalência estimada de 1,86% e consumo de medicação antiepiléptica fornecida pela rede básica de saúde nestas duas cidades. RESULTADOS: Nossas estimativas mostram que somente em torno de metade da população com epilepsia foi tratada em 2001 usando doses preconizadas de medicação antiepiléptica. CONCLUSÃO: A nossa estimativa aponta que uma parcela importante dos pacientes com epilepsia não está sendo tratada no nosso meio. Estudos epidemiológicos futuros devem explorar os motivos desta lacuna de tratamento para que intervenções sejam realizadas para melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes com epilepsia.

Urban prevalence of epilepsy: populational study in São José do Rio Preto, a medium-sized city in Brazil

ANTECEDENTES: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência da epilepsia na população urbana de São José do Rio Preto, com 336000 habitantes, localizada no noroeste do Estado de São Paulo/ Brasil. MÉTODO: O estudo populacional, tipo corte transversal, em amostra aleatória, constituiuse de uma fase de rastreamento, mediante um questionário. O padrão ouro para confirmação diagnóstica foi a história clínica e o exame neurológico. Os testes do c2 e intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) foram usados para análise dos resultados, tendo sido considerados significantes os de valor p< 0,05. RESULTADOS: A amostra estudada foi de 17293 pessoas, cuja distribuição quanto ao sexo, à faixa etária e à raça foram semelhantes à da população em geral. A prevalência de epilepsia por 1000 hab. foi 18,6, sendo 8,2 para ativa considerandose, pelo menos, uma crise no período dos últimos 2 anos. A prevalência na faixa etária de 0 a 4 anos foi 4,9, de 5 a 14, 11,7; de 15 a 64, 20,3; e acima dos 65 anos foi 32,8. CONCLUSÃO: As prevalências de epilepsia acumulada e ativa foram elevadas, semelhantes às dos países em desenvolvimento, em particular, aos da América Latina. A prevalência de epilepsia na infância foi baixa, enquanto que nos idosos foi elevada, semelhantes às observadas em países desenvolvidos. Estes resultados são relevantes no planejamento de medidas sanitárias, adequação ao tratamento da população, considerando a alta prevalência encontrada, para minimizar o impacto da epilepsia na população.