The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in Polish epilepsy patients - The context of pharmaco-resistance.

PURPOSE: Patients with epilepsy (PWE) are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive and anxiety symptoms than the general population; these symptoms are more prevalent in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) compared to those with non-drug-resistant epilepsy (NDRE). The aim of the present study was to compare the level of reported depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with DRE and patients with NDRE and to examine the relationships between demographic and epilepsy-related variables and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 193 adult PWE, divided into a DRE group (n = 87), and an NDRE group (n = 106), completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Stat-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Sand STAI-T). Data analysis included sociodemographic and disease-related variables such as the type of epilepsy syndrome, age at onset of disease, and duration of the disease. RESULTS: The DRE group presented a higher score of BDI than the NDRE group (p = 0.04). Age correlated with the score of STAI-S in the NDRE group (r = 0.22). Sex was the only significant predictor of the score of STAI-T in the NDRE group. Men from the DRE group presented higher scores in BDI, STAI-S, and STA-T compared with the NDRE group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DRE reported more severe depressive symptoms than patients with NDRE. In NDRE patients, the level of anxiety, considered as a state, was correlated with age. Sex was a significant predictor of the level of anxiety in DRE patients. Pharmaco-resistance was significantly associated with severity of depression and anxiety in male patients.

Association of adiponectin, leptin and resistin with inflammatory markers and obesity in dementia.

The aim of the study was to determine the role of adiponectin, leptin and resistin in various types of dementia and to investigate their association with inflammatory markers, insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. In 205 patients with dementia [89 with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 47 with vascular dementia (VaD), 69 with mixed dementia (MD)], 113 persons with mild cognitive impairment and in 107 controls serum adiponectin, leptin and resistin levels, pro-inflammatory [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and chitotriosidase] and anti-inflammatory (25-OH vitamin D, HDL-cholesterol and paraoxonase 1) markers, as well as glucose metabolism parameters (glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR) were determined. In all-cause dementia adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly higher as compared to the controls; leptin levels did not show differences. Higher adiponectin levels concerned AD and MD, whereas higher resistin-VaD and MD. After stratification by abdominal obesity the differences in adiponectin levels remained significant in subjects without obesity. In all-cause dementia negative correlation of adiponectin with obesity, glucose metabolism parameters, IL-6 and hsCRP and positive correlation with HDL-cholesterol were found. Positive correlation of resistin with age, IL-6, hsCRP and chitotriosidase and negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol and paraoxonase 1 were stated. We conclude that dementia of neurodegenerative origin is characterized by elevated adiponectin levels, whereas dementia with vascular changes by increase of resistin. Association with inflammatory indicators may suggest the pro-inflammatory role of resistin in the development of dementia, especially in dementia of vascular mechanism. Identification of this novel biomarker may be important in preventing dementia.

Volume changes of medial temporal lobe structures in patients with genetic generalized and temporal lobe epilepsy in relation to neuropsychological functions.

Purpose: In patients with epilepsy (PWE), cognitive and behavioural dysfunctions are associated with abnormalities in various brain areas. The aim of the study was to compare the volume of the hippocampus (VHIP), amygdala (VAMG) and parahippocampal gyrus (VPHG) with the results of neuropsychological assessment in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE). Methods: 33 PWE were enrolled in the study (mean age 37.3), 10 with TLE and 23 GGE (12 with GGE with tonic-clonic seizure [GGE-GTCS], and 11 with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy). 19 healthy persons (mean age 32.2) were enrolled as the control group (CG). Measurements of VHIP, VAMG and VPHG were made with 3D completely balanced steady state (CBASS) and 3D T1-weighted sequence. All participants underwent a neuropsychological assessment using a multi-domain cognitive battery and emotional state questionnaires. Results: The left hippocampus was significantly smaller in patients with left TLE (LTLE) and with GGE-GTCS, compared to the CG (p = 0.0069). In LTLE a significant enlargement of the right amygdala in comparison to the CG and other types of epilepsy were found (p = 0.0015). Among patients with LTLE and GGE-GTCS, impairment of attention and executive functions was statistically more common than in the CG. VHIP right (r = 0.25 p < 0.01) and VHIP left (r = 0.26 p < 0.04) were positively correlated with phonetic verbal fluency. Conclusions: PWE showed changes in the volume of selected medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures. Selective impairment of attention and executive functions was found. Some neuropsychological findings correlate with volume changes in MTL structures. Antiseizure medications therapy could have an impact on the severity of neuropsychological dysfunctions.

The effect of vitamin B supplementation on homocysteine metabolism and clinical state of patients with chronic epilepsy treated with carbamazepine and valproic acid.

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of vitamin B supplementation on the plasma total homocysteine (p-tHcy), serum folate (s-FA), serum B12 (s-B12), and clinical state of patients with chronic epilepsy. METHODS: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores and p-tHcy, s-B12, and s-FA levels were assessed at baseline, after 1 year of supplementation (G1), and before and after 1 year of VPA or CBZ therapy (G2). RESULTS: Eighty-one patients participated in the study: 51 patients with chronic epilepsy (G1) treated with carbamazepine (CBZ) or valproic acid (VPA), and 30 patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy (G2). At baseline, mean p-tHcy level was significantly higher in G1 than G2 (p=0.0001) with no significant differences in s-FA or s-B12 levels. p-tHcy level significantly decreased in CBZ-treated G1 patients (p=0.00002) after 1 year of supplementation and increased in G2 after 1 year of anti-epileptic drug (AED) therapy without supplementation. BDI scores in G1 decreased significantly after 1 year of supplementation (p=0.0001) and increased significantly in VPA-treated G2 patients after 1 year of AED therapy (p=0.02). The number of hyperhomocysteinemic patients significantly decreased in G1 after vitamin B supplementation (p=0.01) and increased in G2 (p=0.002). We also observed improved BDI scores and reduced seizure frequency in patients with chronic epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that AEDs play a major role in hyperhomocysteinemia development in patients with epilepsy. Adding folate and vitamin B12 to AED therapy is a safe and inexpensive way to reduce the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia.