Evaluation of Interictal Electroencephalography Findings in Patients with Focal Epilepsy: Does Secondary Bilateral Synchrony Play a Role on Seizure Frequency?

Objectives: Interictal electroencephalography (EEG) is an electrophysiological test used in daily practice and important in the diagnosis and treatment process for epileptic patients. Accurate assessment of the interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and recognition of secondary bilateral synchrony (SBS) are important for the evaluation of appropriate treatment options. In this study, we investigated whether the presence of SBS is a risk factor for seizure frequency, treatment response, and localization. Methods: In this study, the data of 126 patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of epilepsy in the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of Namk Kemal University Education and Research Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, seizure frequency, localization, treatment response and EEG characteristics of the patients were investigated and the results of 122 patients were obtained. Results: Fifty-eight (46%) of the patients were female, and 68 (54%) were male. The mean age was 36.5 +/- 16.4 (15-78) years. EEG of 15 patients (12.2%) was reported as SBS. Focal epileptiform abnormality was detected in 54 patients (44.2%) and focal irregular background activity (non-epileptic findings) was found in 12 patients (9.8%). When semiological features and EEG findings were evaluated together, 44 patients (34.9%) were classified as frontal lobe seizures, 66 patients (52.4%) as temporal lobe seizures, 16 patients (12.6%) as the others. Forty-six patients (36.5%) had no seizures, while 15 (11.9%) had one seizure per year, 46 (36.5%) had one seizure in one to six months, and 19 (15.1%) had daily or weekly seizures. Twenty-nine (23%) of the 46 seizure-free patients became seizure-free in an early stage, 17 patients (13.5%) became seizure-free after the sixth month of the treatment. Conclusion: Although the presence of IED and SBS in interictal EEG is not a risk factor for seizure frequency and treatment response, and the rate of SBS is higher in frontal lobe seizures. The presence of IED and SBS in the management of treatment may lead to false results

Evaluation of Falls and Fall Risk Factors in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

6th Congress of the European-Academy-of-Neurology (EAN) -- MAY 23-26, 2020 -- ELECTR NETWORK[No Abstract Available]Europ Acad Neuro

Atypical Features in a Large Turkish Family Affected with Friedreich Ataxia

Here, we describe the clinical features of several members of the same family diagnosed with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) and cerebral lesions, demyelinating neuropathy, and late-age onset without a significant cardiac involvement and presenting with similar symptoms, although genetic testing was negative for the GAA repeat expansion in one patient of the family. The GAA repeat expansion in the frataxin gene was shown in all of the family members except in a young female patient. MRI revealed arachnoid cysts in two patients; MRI was consistent with both cavum septum pellucidum-cavum vergae and nodular signal intensity increase in one patient. EMG showed demyelinating sensorimotor polyneuropathy in another patient. The GAA expansion-negative 11-year-old female patient had mental-motor retardation, epilepsy, and ataxia. None of the patients had significant cardiac symptoms. Description of FRDA families with different ethnic backgrounds may assist in identifying possible phenotypic and genetic features of the disease. Furthermore, the genetic heterogeneity observed in this family draws attention to the difficulty of genetic counseling in an inbred population and to the need for genotyping all affected members before delivering comprehensive genetic counseling

Atypical Features in a Large Turkish Family Affected with Friedreich Ataxia

Here, we describe the clinical features of several members of the same family diagnosed with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) and cerebral lesions, demyelinating neuropathy, and late-age onset without a significant cardiac involvement and presenting with similar symptoms, although genetic testing was negative for the GAA repeat expansion in one patient of the family. The GAA repeat expansion in the frataxin gene was shown in all of the family members except in a young female patient. MRI revealed arachnoid cysts in two patients; MRI was consistent with both cavum septum pellucidum-cavum vergae and nodular signal intensity increase in one patient. EMG showed demyelinating sensorimotor polyneuropathy in another patient. The GAA expansion-negative 11-year-old female patient had mental-motor retardation, epilepsy, and ataxia. None of the patients had significant cardiac symptoms. Description of FRDA families with different ethnic backgrounds may assist in identifying possible phenotypic and genetic features of the disease. Furthermore, the genetic heterogeneity observed in this family draws attention to the difficulty of genetic counseling in an inbred population and to the need for genotyping all affected members before delivering comprehensive genetic counseling