Presurgical evaluation of temporal lobe epilepsy: Is an outpatient prolonged ambulatory EEG study sufficient to recommend a surgical resection?

PURPOSE: Inpatient Video EEG Monitoring (VEM) is the typical study performed in presurgical evaluations. It is expensive and not widely available in developing countries. Recent studies suggested that in selected patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), the recording of unilateral interictal epileptiform activity ipsilateral to the MTS may yield sufficient presurgical EEG data. Outpatient prolonged ambulatory EEG (AEEG) could be an alternative in these cases. The purpose of this study was to compare the post-surgical seizure outcome and costs between patients evaluated with AEEG versus VEM. METHODS: Thirty patients with TLE were included: 21 evaluated with VEM and 9 with AmbEEG and underwent surgery between 2011 and 2017. The minimum, post-surgical follow-up period was 1 year. RESULTS: Seven of nine patients who underwent AEEG had seizures ipsilateral to MTS. In two patients only unilateral interictal activity ipsilateral to the lesion was recorded. All patients were free of disabling seizures (Engel Class I) at last follow-up. The mean cost per patient of AEEG was $980 and was $4680 for VEM. CONCLUSION: AEEG may be used to identify candidates for temporal lobectomy in selected patients with unilateral lesional mesial TLE. This approach to EEG monitoring could make epilpesy surgery more affordable to some patients in developing countries.

[Sudden death in epilepsy]. / Muerte súbita en epilepsia.

The risk of sudden unexpected death in patients with epilepsy (SUDEP), is 20 to 25 times greater than in the general population. This increased risk is seen specially in refractory epilepsy, with an incidence of 9:1,000 patients-years. Risk factors have been established based on retrospective studies, finding that the frequency of seizures, specially generalized tonic clonic seizures, is the most important one. The physiopathological mechanism of SUDEP is not yet fully understood. Autonomic system abnormalities, as well as cardiac and respiratory changes have been found. The finding of new molecular biomarkers to identify patients with increased risk should be a priority. Treatment is based in the management of risk factors, although clear recommendations are hard to establish given the low level of evidence.

[Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease]. / Estimulación cerebral profunda en enfermedad de Parkinson.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation is an essential therapeutic tool in Parkinson's disease. AIM: To assess the results of a series of patients with Parkinson's disease treated with micro-electrode guided subthalamic nucleus stimulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were studied (10 males). Three months after surgery, we analyzed the change in motor disturbances, medication need to control symptoms and quality of life. RESULTS: We observed a significant improvement in all the assessed variables. Motor involvement determined as OFF hours and expressed as percentage of the day changed from 30 ± 15 to 10 ± 7% in the preoperative and postoperative periods, respectively. ON hours without dyskinesia changed from 17 ± 16 to 78 ± 21%. ON hours with dyskinesia changed from 53 ± 23 to 12 ± 15%. Medication need changed from 1,505 ± 499 to 1,214 ± 528 levodopa equivalents. Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire 39 score changed from 62.9 ± 22.7 to 34.3 ± 18.5. During the 5-year follow-up a continuous improvement of symptoms was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-electrode guided subthalamic nucleus functional surgery in patients with Parkinson's disease has good immediate and late results.

Estimulación cerebral profunda en enfermedad de Parkinson / Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease

Background: Deep brain stimulation is an essential therapeutic tool in Parkinson's disease. Aim: To assess the results of a series of patients with Parkinson's disease treated with micro-electrode guided subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Material and Methods: Twenty patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were studied (10 males). Three months after surgery, we analyzed the change in motor disturbances, medication need to control symptoms and quality of life. Results: We observed a significant improvement in all the assessed variables. Motor involvement determined as OFF hours and expressed as percentage of the day changed from 30 ± 15 to 10 ± 7% in the preoperative and postoperative periods, respectively. ON hours without dyskinesia changed from 17 ± 16 to 78 ± 21%. ON hours with dyskinesia changed from 53 ± 23 to 12 ± 15%. Medication need changed from 1,505 ± 499 to 1,214 ± 528 levodopa equivalents. Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire 39 score changed from 62.9 ± 22.7 to 34.3 ± 18.5. During the 5-year follow-up a continuous improvement of symptoms was observed. Conclusions: Micro-electrode guided subthalamic nucleus functional surgery in patients with Parkinson's disease has good immediate and late results.

Access to diagnostic and therapeutic facilities for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: An international survey by the ILAE PNES Task Force.

OBJECTIVE: Studies from a small number of countries suggest that patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) have limited access to diagnostic and treatment services. The PNES Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) carried out 2 surveys to explore the diagnosis and treatment of PNES around the world. METHODS: A short survey (8 questions) was sent to all 114 chapters of the ILAE. A longer survey (36 questions) was completed by healthcare professionals who see patients with seizures. Questions were separated into 5 sections: professional role, diagnostic methods, management, etiology, and access to health care. RESULTS: Responses were received from 63 different countries. The short survey was completed by 48 ILAE chapters, and the long survey by 1098 health professionals from 28 countries. PNES were recognized as a diagnostic and therapeutic problem in all countries. Trauma and mental health issues were most commonly recognized as etiologic factors. There was a clear relationship between income and access to diagnostic tests and expertise. Psychological therapy was most commonly considered the treatment of choice. Although financial difficulties were the most commonly reported problem with service access in low-income countries, in all countries stigma, lack of popular awareness, and lack of information posed challenges. SIGNIFICANCE: This global provider survey demonstrates that PNES are a health problem around the world. Health care for PNES could be improved with better education of healthcare professionals, the development of reliable and simple diagnostic procedures that do not rely on costly tests, and the provision of accessible information.

Developing clinical practice guidelines for epilepsy: A report from the ILAE Epilepsy Guidelines Working Group.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) contain evidence-based recommendations to guide clinical care, policy development, and quality of care improvement. A recent systematic review of epilepsy guidelines identified considerable variability in the quality of available guidelines. Although excellent frameworks for CPG development exist, processes are not followed uniformly internationally, and resources to develop CPGs may be limited in certain settings. An International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) working group was charged with proposing methodology to guide the development of future epilepsy-specific CPGs. A comprehensive literature search (1985-2014) identified articles related to CPG development and handbooks. Guideline handbooks were included if they were publicly available, and if their methodology had been used to develop CPGs. The working group's expertise also informed the creation of methodologies and processes to develop future CPGs for the ILAE. Five handbooks from North America (American Academy of Neurology), Europe (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network & National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), Australia (National Health and Medical Research Council), World Health Organization (WHO), and additional references were identified to produce evidence-based, consensus-driven methodology for development of epilepsy-specific CPGs. Key components of CPG development include the following: identifying the topic and defining the scope; establishing a working group; identifying and evaluating the evidence; formulating recommendations and determining strength of recommendations; obtaining peer reviews; dissemination, implementation, and auditing; and updating and retiring the CPG. A practical handbook and toolkit was developed. The resulting CPG development toolkit should facilitate the development of high-quality ILAE CPGs to improve the care of persons with epilepsy.

Comparing standard medical care for nonepileptic seizures in Chile and the United States.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the diagnostic and treatment practices for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in the United States (US) to Chile. METHODS: A survey on the diagnostic and treatment practices for PNES was administered to practicing clinicians in Chile. Results from 96 Chilean respondents were compared to results from 307 US clinicians. Type I error (alpha) was set to 0.005 for multiple comparisons. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis of PNES is made by inpatient video-EEG/LTM in 89% of the US respondents compared to 25% of the Chilean respondents (p<0.0001). The diagnosis of PNES is made by history and exam alone at twice the rate in Chile (38%) than in the US (16%; p<0.0001). TREATMENT: A higher proportion of the Chilean respondents (65%) endorsed psychopharmacotherapy as potentially beneficial compared to the US respondents (31%; p<0.0001). DISCUSSION: This cross-cultural multi-site survey reveals some differences in PNES evaluation and management between neurologists and other clinicians in the US and in Chile. Access to video EEG may improve PNES diagnosis and treatment.

The measurement of ammonia blood levels in patients taking valproic acid: looking for problems where they do not exist?

Hyperammonemia (HA) commonly occurs with the use of valproic acid (VPA); while it has no clinical significance in most cases, the Physician Desk Reference recommends its discontinuation in the presence of HA. The purpose of this study is to review the literature in order to estimate the prevalence and magnitude of HA in VPA treated patients, to establish any association with hepatotoxicity and encephalopathy and to identify any factors associated with its occurrence. A search of MEDLINE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, between 1980 and 2005 was performed. Out of 183 studies, 24 met our inclusion criteria. The prevalence of HA in the prospective studies ranged between 70% and 100%, while in cross-sectional studies it varied between 16% and 100%. Ammonia (NH(3)) blood levels increased by a two-fold average relative to the baseline levels. There was no association between HA and clinical symptoms. Concomitant administration of other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was the factor most frequently associated with HA.

Investigación de los efectos neurofisiológicos de la inhalación aguda de neoprén en el gato / Investigation of the neurophysiological effects of acute neopren inhalation in the cat

En 15 gatos encéfalo aislados o curarizados, se estudiaron los fectos neurofisiológicos de la inhalación aguda de disolventes orgánicos de neoprén (Tolueno, n-hexano, benceno). La actividad eléctrica se registró medinate electrodos implantados estereotáxicamente en hipocampo, amígdalas, formación reticular mesencefálica y núcleo caudado. Se hizo monitoreo de EEG y ECG. El disolvente orgánico fue impulsado por medio de la ventilación mecánica. La actividad electrográfica de base durante los 30 a 40 min que duró cada sesión experimental, varió desde los signos de máxima alerta hasta intensificación de sincronización modulada que alternó con desincronización. Frecuentemente esta actividad estuvo desfasada entre las diversas estructuras estudiadas. Se observaron descargas paroxísticas parciales principalmente en hipocampo y amígdala. También se observaron descargas paroxísticas generalizadas con orígenes aparentes distintos. En cinco gatos se hizo fotoestimulación, en dos provocó paroxismos generalizados y en uno, crisis focal amigadliana. La frecuencia óptima fue de 3 Hz