Neurophysiologic tests screening cognitive impairment in idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients

Abstract Background Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder with increased intracranial pressure of obscure cause. Patients with IIH may suffer from difficulty in thinking or concentrating. This work aimed at highlighting the neurophysiologic suggestions of cognitive impairment in IIH patients. Methods Twenty patients with IIH—and a similar number of matched control subjects—were examined in this case–control study. The P300 and contingent negative variation (CNV) were performed. Results from both groups were compared. Results There were significant lower means of P300 amplitude and CNV amplitude (early and late response) in patients than in controls. Also, there were significant delayed latencies of P300 and CNV in patients than in normal control subjects. Finally, P300 latency was correlated to mini-mental state examination. Conclusions We concluded that cognitive affection in IIH is well appreciated at neurophysiologic levels and is related to clinical inputs. We are providing a suggestion of the significant relation between clinical screening (i.e., mini-mental state examination) and NP screening (i.e., P300) of cognitive functions

Seizure control during pregnancy and postpartum period in women with epilepsy: an Egyptian prospective study

Abstract Background Proper seizure control during pregnancy and postpartum is essential to optimize the outcome of women with epilepsy (WWE). The current work aimed to address factors related to seizure occurrence during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods One hundred twenty-five WWE, compliant with their anti-seizure medications (ASMs) regimen, were prospectively evaluated for seizure control and ASMs changes all through the pregnancy up to 4 weeks postpartum. Results Most of the patients, 73 (58.4%), completed their pregnancy without seizures, while 52 (41.6%) had seizures. Only one case developed one episode of convulsive status epilepticus in the third trimester. Due to breakthrough seizures, the ASM dose was increased from the first to the third trimester in 19.2% of pregnancies, while another ASM was added in 8 pregnancies. Uncontrolled seizures during the six months before pregnancy were associated with a four-fold increase in the risk of seizures during pregnancy (95% CI 2.476–6.695). The latter nearly doubled the risk of seizures during the postpartum period (RR 1.978) (95% CI 1.44 -2.717). Furthermore, genetic etiology would increase the risk of seizures during the postpartum period by 2.7 times more than the unknown etiology (RR 2.778, 95%CI 1.156–6.679). Conclusion Women with epilepsy should be counselled that proper seizure control six months before pregnancy is necessary to pass their pregnancy and the postpartum period without seizures