Self-perception of factors that precipitate or inhibit seizures in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

SummaryPurpose:To assess self-perception of factors that precipitate or inhibit seizures in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).Patients and methods:Thirty-six males and 39 females with JME and mean age of 25.8±8.7 years were analysed. All patients completed a standardized questionnaire to assess for the presence or absence of precipitant or inhibitory factors for their seizures in a face-to-face interview. These data were statistically analysed through logistic and linear regression models and Phi coefficient.Results:Ninety-two percent of the patients identified at least one precipitating factor (PF). In order of frequency the following PFs were recorded: stress (83%), sleep deprivation (77%), specific thoughts/mental concentration (23%), performance of hand activities and complex finger movements (20%), flashing lights and playing games (15%), speaking out in public (11%) and alcohol intake (11%), reading (7%), calculating and writing (5%), playing musical instruments (4%), drawing (3%), and specific types of music (1%). Menstrual cycle was the third most important PF in the women (33%). Although PFs were easily recognized, 77% of the patients stated that they were unable to avoid the occurrence of the seizures.Conclusions:Structured questionnaire is useful in stimulating patients to self-report seizure precipitants. Patients with higher education and uncontrolled seizures identified them more easily. The presence of a significant number of uncommon PFs, such as mental and motor hand tasks, considered uncommon for other epileptic syndromes, suggests that the role of these factors may be under-recognized in JME

Neuropsychiatric profiles of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy treated with valproate or topiramate

In this cross-sectional study, the neuropsychiatric profiles of 42 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) who were treated with valproate (VPA) or topiramate (TPM) in monotherapy were compared with the aim of verifying the relationship between cognitive dysfunction, psychiatric disorders, and factors related to epilepsy. Patients with JME taking VPA 500-1750 mg/day or TPM 50-175 mg/day were selected. for all patients, psychiatric profiles were evaluated with the Scheduled Clinical Interview, axes I and II (SCID I and SCID II), or the Brazilian version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children (K-SADS-PL). Neuropsychological measures included intellectual functions, attention, memory, executive functions, and language. Patients taking TPM exhibited worse neuropsychological performance on attention, short-term memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency functions related to frontal lobes, which may be dysfunctional in JME. Anxiety disorders were associated with lack of seizure control and having had more than 20 lifetime generalized tonic-clonic seizures. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Functional significance of MRI defined mesial temporal sclerosis in temporal lobe epilepsy

The functional significance of MRI-defined mesial temporal sclerosis in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is not completely established. In order to study the possible relationship between signals of mesial temporal sclerosis on MRI and interictal SPECT findings we selected 18 patients with complex partial seizures, unilateral temporal EEG focus and normal CT. The EEG focus was defined by the presence of interictal sharp waves and slow background on several scalp EEG obtained during many years of follow up in all patients and by ictal recordings with sphenoidal electrodes in 12 patients. Group I comprised patients (n=11) in whom MRI showed mesial temporal sclerosis; group II patients (n=7) had normal MRIs. All patients were submitted to interictal 99m-Tc HMPAO injections with concomitant EEG monitoring. Lateralized hypoperfusion ipsilateral to the EEG was found in 13 patients (72%). In all Group II and in 6 Group I patients a temporal hypoperfusion was found. This SPECT study showed a higher positivity rate in patients with normal MRI than previously reported. On the other hand, in all these group II patients a neocortical origin of epileptic focus was suspected on clinical or electroencephalographic basis. Positive SPECT findings may be at least as prevalent in neocortical as in mesiolimbic epilepsy

Tomografia por emissão de fóton único em epilepsia temporal: estudos intercríticos e críticos com análise visual e semi quantitativa Single photon emission tomography in temporal lobe epilepsy: visual and semi quantitative analysis in interictal and ictal studies

Vinte e oito estudos intercríticos e 9 críticos/pós críticos de tomografia por emissão de fóton único (SPECT) foram realizados em 27 pacientes com epilepsia do lobo temporal e esclerose mesial temporal. Estudos intercríticos localizaram corretamente a área epileptogênica em 19 (67%) dos pacientes pela análise visual e 16 (61,5%) pela semi quantitativa, com 10,7 e 15,3%, de falsa lateralização respectivamente. Todos os 9 estudos críticos/ pós críticos detectaram o hemisfério epileptogênico e permitiram localização correta da área epileptogênica em 5 de 9 pacientes cujos exames intercríticos haviam sido inconclusivos. Três estudos realizados durante crises secundariamente generalizadas e simétricas mostraram hiperfluxo restrito ao lobo temporal.Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) was performed in 27 patients with refractory complex partial seizures from the temporal lobes due to mesial temporal sclerosis. Independent blinded observers assessed the 28 interictal studies and 9 ictal/postictal studies. Visual analysis of interictal studies detected hypoperfusion in 22, ipsilateral to the epileptogenic zone in 19 (67%) and contralateral in 3 (10.7%). Quantified temporal lobe asymmetry, greater than a previously derived normal range, correctly identified the epileptogenic zone in 16 (61.5%) with false lateralization in 4 (15.3%). In all 9 cases in which they were performed, ictal/postictal studies showed hypoperfusion at the region of epileptic focus. In 3 patients with complex partial seizures followed by symmetric generalized tonic-clonic seizures, hyperperfusion restricted to the temporal lobe was demonstrated. In 5 of these patients the interictal studies were unable to demonstrate localized changes. There were no significant correlations between SPECT findings and clinical parameters or EEG slowing in the temporal lobes