Biomedical subjects

C Nocerino

Publications and source records attributed to C Nocerino.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Venous angiomas and epilepsy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of epilepsy associated with cerebral venous angiomas (VA). We examined epileptic patients in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed VA. The characteristics of epilepsy and its relationships to VA were studied. Out of 1020 epileptic patients submitted to MRI in a 10-year period, 4 presented with VA. All had partial seizures, most frequently complex partial, with secondary generalizations in 3. Drug resistance was observed in 2. One patient had a small area of cortical dysplasia near the VA; another had a cutaneous angioma. In 2 patients, there was no topographic concordance between the VA and the focus on electroencephalography. Our study reveals that VA are rarely found in epileptic patients, differently from other vascular malformations, in particular cavernomas. Topographic and/or etiological relationships between VA and epilepsy are still undefined.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Eating epilepsy. Heterogeneity of ictal semiology: the role of video-EEG monitoring.

In this paper, three more cases of eating-induced seizures are reported. We have obtained ictal video-electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings for two patients, which confirm the heterogeneity of ictal semiology of these seizures. However, in all the cases the inclusion of this kind of reflex epilepsy (RE) among the localization-related epilepsies (LRE) is confirmed. The usefulness of video EEG monitoring in studying these seizures and reflex epilepsy in general (RE) is stressed.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Gelastic epilepsy: symptomatic and cryptogenic cases.

PURPOSE: To describe the etiology, characteristics, and clinical evolution of epilepsy in patients with gelastic seizures (GSs). METHODS: Nine patients whose seizures were characterized by typical laughing attacks were observed between 1986 and 1997. Patients were selected based on electroencephalogram (EEG) or video-EEG recordings of at least one GS and on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. RESULTS: Five patients were affected by symptomatic localization-related epilepsy (LRE), with four of the patients' disorders related to a hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) and one to tuberous sclerosis (TS) without evident hypothalamic lesions. In four patients (the cryptogenic cases) MRI was negative also in these cases, clinical and EEG data suggested a focal origin of the seizures. The epileptic syndrome in the HH cases was usually drug-resistant, and was surgically treated in two of the patients. The patient with TS became seizure free with vigabatrin. In the cryptogenic cases, the ictal, clinical, and EEG semiology were similar to the symptomatic cases: the clinical evolution was variable, with patients having transient drug resistance or partial response to treatment. No cognitive defects were observed in the cryptogenic patients. None of the nine patients had precocious puberty. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the frequent finding of HHs in GSs and further underline how GSs may also be observed in patients without MRI lesions and with normal neurologic status. In these patients, clinical and EEG seizure semiology is similar to symptomatic cases, but the clinical evolution is usually more benign.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Transient global amnesia of epileptic origin accompanied by fever.

The case of a previously healthy 69-year-old female patient is described who presented, in a period of 6 months, 3 long-lasting (from 2 hour- to 10 hour-duration) episodes of transient global amnesia accompanied by a temperature rise. During one of these episodes an EEG was obtained, showing a diffuse alteration, focal slowing, and bitemporal asynchronous paroxysmal activity giving rise to electrical ictal discharges. Interictal EEGs were normal. Cerebral computed tomography was normal. Carbamazepine was given with complete control of the attacks. These episodes may be interpreted as complex partial status with unusual semeiology.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Derangement of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator in women with epilepsy.

An increased frequency of reproductive endocrine diseases has been described in women with epilepsy and a subclinical reproductive dysfunction has been suggested in normally menstruating epileptic women. We assessed the reproductive endocrine function in 11 normally menstruating, drug-free epileptic women, evaluating the basal hormonal profile and LH pulsatile secretion during continuous EEG monitoring. A significant LH hyperpulsatility was observed in epileptic women compared with controls; moreover, a significant increase of gonadotropin basal secretions was observed when inter-ictal paroxysmal activity increased. The derangement of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator may represent a subclinical condition associated with epilepsy, not necessarily affecting the regularity of menstrual function. However, it is possible that the alteration of LH pulsatile pattern might eventually cause reproductive endocrine diseases. Paroxysmal activity seems to be an important additional factor in the derangement of gonadotropin secretion.

Adolescent↗