Quality of life in people with epilepsy: Associations with resilience, internalized stigma, and clinical factors in a low-income population.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder associated with comorbidities and a reduced quality of life (QoL). Internalized stigma is negatively correlatedwiththe QoL, whereas high levels of resilience are associated with increased QoL. Although the stigma towards people with epilepsy (PWE) is expected to be higher in low-income settings than in high-income settings, further research is needed. This study aimed to examine the extent to which resilience and internalized stigma correlatewith the QoL in PWE from a low-income population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study was conducted on 60 PWE who visited the Neurology Department of the Hospital de Clinicas (Buenos Aires, Argentina) between May and September 2022. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Participants completed the Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF), the Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS), and the Resilience Scale (RS). Variables that showed a significant association with the QoL in the univariate analysis were included in a multiple regression model. RESULTS: Participants had a low overall QoL score, with a median of 59 (95 %CI: 57.2-61.8). They had an average level of education and a high rate of unemployment. Perceived stigma was higher in the workplace than in the medical or family settings. Univariate analysis revealed that the QoL was associated with internalized stigma score, resilience score, seizure frequency, seizure etiology, work status, and educational level. The multiple regressionrevealed a significant decrease in the QoL when perceived stigma increased (p = 0.0016) or when the cause of epilepsy was structural (p = 0,006) and a significant increase in the QoL when the resilience score was higher (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSION: The QoL of PWE in a low-income context is strongly associated with their levels of resilience and internalized stigma. When addressing the social burden of epilepsy, resilience support should be increased in the care of PWE to reduce internalized stigma and improve the QoL.

Risk factors for drug-resistant epilepsy in adult patients / Factores de riesgo de epilepsia farmacorresistente en pacientes adultos

Introduction Drug-resistant epilepsy occurs in about 30% of epilepsy patients. It has been suggested that etiology or seizure type would increase the risk of pharmacoresistance. This study aims to compare the characteristics of patients with drug-sensitive epilepsy with patients with drug-resistant epilepsy to identify risk factors. Patient and methods A multicentric cohort study was conducted between 2019 and 2022. We included patients >18 years-old with epilepsy but excluded psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and less than 2 years of follow-up. Results We included 128 patients, of whom 46 had drug-resistance epilepsy, and 82 responding to medication. Both groups showed similar characteristics. Febrile seizures (OR: 7.25), focal epilepsy (OR: 2.4), focal seizures with loss of consciousness (OR: 2.36), structural etiology (OR: 2.2) and abnormal MRI (OR: 4.6) were significant risk factors for drug-resistance epilepsy. Conclusion Following other studies, we observed that factors such as epilepsy type, seizure type, structural etiology, abnormal MRI, and febrile seizure increased the risk for drug-resistance epilepsy, in our population (AU)

Introducción La epilepsia farmacorresistente se presenta en aproximadamente 30% de los pacientes que padecen epilepsia. Se ha sugerido que la etiología o el tipo de crisis aumentarían el riesgo de farmacorresistencia. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar las características de los pacientes con epilepsia fármacosensible con las de los pacientes con epilepsia farmacorresistente para identificar los factores de riesgo. Pacientes y métodos Se realizó un estudio de cohorte multicéntrico entre 2019 y 2022. Se incluyeron pacientes >18 años con epilepsia pero se excluyeron las crisis psicógenas no epilépticas y menos de dos años de seguimiento. Resultados Se incluyeron 128 pacientes, de los cuales 46 tenían epilepsia farmacorresistente y 82 respondían a la medicación. Ambos grupos mostraron características similares. Las crisis febriles (OR: 7,25), la epilepsia focal (OR: 2,4), las crisis focales con pérdida de conciencia (OR: 2,36), la etiología estructural (OR: 2,2) y la resonancia magnética anormal (OR: 4,6) fueron factores de riesgo significativos de epilepsia farmacorresistente. Conclusión Siguiendo otros estudios, observamos que factores como el tipo de epilepsia, el tipo de crisis, la etiología estructural, la RM anormal y las crisis febriles aumentaban el riesgo de epilepsia farmacorresistente, en nuestra población (AU)

Risk factors for drug-resistant epilepsy in adult patients.

INTRODUCTION: Drug-resistant epilepsy occurs in about 30% of epilepsy patients. It has been suggested that etiology or seizure type would increase the risk of pharmacoresistance. This study aims to compare the characteristics of patients with drug-sensitive epilepsy with patients with drug-resistant epilepsy to identify risk factors. PATIENT AND METHODS: A multicentric cohort study was conducted between 2019 and 2022. We included patients >18 years-old with epilepsy but excluded psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and less than 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: We included 128 patients, of whom 46 had drug-resistance epilepsy, and 82 responding to medication. Both groups showed similar characteristics. Febrile seizures (OR: 7.25), focal epilepsy (OR: 2.4), focal seizures with loss of consciousness (OR: 2.36), structural etiology (OR: 2.2) and abnormal MRI (OR: 4.6) were significant risk factors for drug-resistance epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Following other studies, we observed that factors such as epilepsy type, seizure type, structural etiology, abnormal MRI, and febrile seizure increased the risk for drug-resistance epilepsy, in our population.

Enfermedad celíaca, epilepsia y calcificaciones cerebrales / Celiac disease, epilepsy and cerebral calcifications

Resumen Varón de 33 años con antecedentes de convulsiones febriles y discapacidad intelectual moderada grave, inició a los 2 años convulsiones tanto focales como generalizadas atónicas diarias, que ocasionaron traumas faciales. Debido a la farmacorresistencia se implantó un estimulador del nervio vago, con respuesta parcial al mismo. Durante su seguimiento, se hizo diagnóstico de enfermedad celíaca. Al realizar una tomografía de encéfalo se evidenciaron calcificaciones piriformes occipitales bilaterales, estableciéndose el diagnostico de enfermedad celiaca, epilepsia y calcificaciones cerebrales. Se le indicó dieta libre de gluten y continuar el tratamiento farmacológico, logrando de esta manera una reducción de las crisis.

Abstract A 33-year-old man with a history of febrile seizures and moderate-severe intellectual disability began, at 2 years, both focal and generalized daily atonic seizures, which caused facial trauma. Due to drug resistance, a vagus nerve stimulator was implanted, with partial response to it. During his follow-up, he was diagnosed with celiac disease. When performing a brain tomography, bilateral occipital pyriform calcifications were evidenced, establishing the diagnosis of celiac disease, epilepsy and cerebral calcifications. A gluten-free diet was indicated and pharmacological treatment continued, thus achieving a reduction in seizures.

[Celiac disease, epilepsy and cerebral calcifications]. / Enfermedad celíaca, epilepsia y calcificaciones cerebrales.

A 33-year-old man with a history of febrile seizures and moderate-severe intellectual disability began, at 2 years, both focal and generalized daily atonic seizures, which caused facial trauma. Due to drug resistance, a vagus nerve stimulator was implanted, with partial response to it. During his follow-up, he was diagnosed with celiac disease. When performing a brain tomography, bilateral occipital pyriform calcifications were evidenced, establishing the diagnosis of celiac disease, epilepsy and cerebral calcifications. A gluten-free diet was indicated and pharmacological treatment continued, thus achieving a reduction in seizures.

Varón de 33 años con antecedentes de convulsiones febriles y discapacidad intelectual moderada grave, inició a los 2 años convulsiones tanto focales como generalizadas atónicas diarias, que ocasionaron traumas faciales. Debido a la farmacorresistencia se implantó un estimulador del nervio vago, con respuesta parcial al mismo. Durante su seguimiento, se hizo diagnóstico de enfermedad celíaca. Al realizar una tomografía de encéfalo se evidenciaron calcificaciones piriformes occipitales bilaterales, estableciéndose el diagnostico de enfermedad celiaca, epilepsia y calcificaciones cerebrales. Se le indicó dieta libre de gluten y continuar el tratamiento farmacológico, logrando de esta manera una reducción de las crisis.