Visual function during long-term desferrioxamine treatment.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
N Stefani
Publications and source records attributed to N Stefani.
Effect of carbamazepine on EEG background activity and on interictal epileptiform abnormalities in focal epilepsy.
The effect of carbamazepine (CBZ) on EEG background activity and on interictal epileptiform abnormalities (IEA) was studied in 15 patients with focal epilepsy who started antiepileptic drug treatment (AED) for the first time. A computerized EEG study, performed before and two months after starting therapy, utilized spectral analysis and automatic recognition of IEA. The occurrence of seizures was considered in order to clarify the relationship between IEA and the seizures themselves. Statistical evaluation of EEG spectral values was calculated through analysis of variance (ANOVA), while for IEA the non parametric Wilcoxon test was utilized. In 13 patients who remained seizure-free during the two month-period of observation, IEA was unchanged or decreased. In one of the two patients who continued to have seizures, IEA significantly increased. During therapy, the background activity presented significant increase of slow activity in approximately half the patients. This increase was more evident in those patients showing active epileptic foci before treatment, rather than in those with rare or no spikes. The changes in IEA seem to be related to the occurrence of seizures rather than to a direct action of CBZ on spikes.
Adolescent↗
EEG changes induced by carbamazepine therapy at rest and during mental processes.
The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) on EEG background activity have been studied, at rest and during mental processes, in 18 epileptic patients suffering from focal epilepsy and starting antiepileptic treatment for the first time. The EEGs were recorded before and after CBZ therapy, at rest with eyes closed (EC), during blocking reaction (BR), fixation (FIX) and mental arithmetic (MA) tasks, and then evaluated by spectral analysis. All data underwent statistical evaluation utilizing the ANOVA and correlation coefficient. The following parameters were evaluated: mean absolute and relative power and mean frequency. The results have shown that CBZ induced a significant increase of slow activity at rest with EC, which was represented by delta potentials, and was correlated with CBZ plasma levels. In evaluating the different cortical activation patterns, a decrease of the alpha reactivity was noted during BR and FIX, while a significant increase of beta activity was observed during the performance of all tasks. The relationship between the increased beta power, possibly reflecting an increase of cognitive activity for processing information, and the lack of a significant decrease of alpha activity are discussed.
Adolescent↗
Effect of carbamazepine treatment on EEG changes induced by different cortical activation patterns in newly referred epileptic patients.
Sixteen epileptic patients suffering from focal epilepsy who underwent antiepileptic drug treatment with carbamazepine (CBZ) for the first time were studied. The EEG was recorded at rest with eyes closed, during blocking reaction (BR), fixation (FIX) and mental arithmetic tasks. The computerized EEG study, performed before and after CBZ therapy, utilized spectral analysis. Data underwent statistical evaluation through Anova and correlation analysis. The parameters evaluated were the mean frequency and the mean absolute and relative power. The results have shown that after CBZ treatment there is a decrease in the alpha reactivity during BR and FIX, while a significant increase in beta activity was observed during all tasks. The effect of CBZ therapy on EEG activity during cortical activation patterns are discussed.
Adult↗
Lateralization of the epileptogenic focus by computerized EEG study and neuropsychological evaluation.
The localization of the epileptogenic focus relies on different factors. In patients with partial seizures, asymmetries in EEG background activity were measured by a statistical evaluation of spectral data. Neurophysiological results were compared with neuropsychological findings and MRI. Fifteen of 22 patients showed asymmetries in EEG background activity. The most prominent abnormality was a statistically significant increase of slow activity observed in 59% of cases. Delta asymmetry coincided with the site of lesions, evidenced by MRI, in 83% of patients; with the site of decreased beta activity in 60% and with the maximum level of spiking activity in 58% of cases. Neuropsychological tests showed a lateralization of the hemispheric function which coincided with delta asymmetry in 33% of patients. These results suggest that the EEG background activity, when compared with other parameters, may represent a useful method in lateralizing the epileptogenic focus.
Adolescent↗
Comparison of neuropsychological, MRI and computerized EEG findings in a case of prosopoagnosia.
We present the case of a patient suffering from prosopoagnosia (PA). The MRI, performed at the onset of the disease, showed a lesion, strictly confined to the right temporo-occipital region; whereas the computerized EEG documented a functional impairment of the posterior regions of both hemispheres. A control performed two months later indicated a partial recovery of the neuropsychological deficit coupled with an improvement of EEG abnormalities, which was more prominent on the left side. The usefulness of functional studies in order better to comprehend the anatomical substrates of PA and their prognostic value are briefly discussed.
Adult↗
Intracerebral metastasis in Ewing's sarcoma.
The evidence of CNS involvement in Ewing's sarcoma is uncommon and very often due to a direct extension of the tumor to extradural space and meninges. We report a case of a 14-year old girl with a primary ischio-pubic localization of Ewing's sarcoma. Body CT scan showed a bone lesion involving the left fronto-temporal region of the skull without affecting the brain. After chemotherapy radiological findings showed complete recovery. Ten months after treatment, the patient had neurological symptoms. Cerebral CT scan evidenced a large tumor mass localized in the right temporal lobe. Following radiotherapy the tumor mass was no longer visible. This case shows that late intraparenchymal CNS metastasis occurs independently from the previous skull lesion. Therefore these data, even through based on a single observation, lead to believe that in some cases prophylactic chemotherapy and radiotherapy of CNS may not be necessary.
Adolescent↗
Toxic effects of high-dose deferoxamine treatment in patients with iron overload: an electrophysiological study of cerebral and visual function.
BACKGROUND AND METHODS: It is well known that deferoxamine (DFO) treatment in thalassemia major can produce ocular toxicity. In one experience, Visual evoked potentials (VEPS) to pattern reversal were formed to be altered in 4 out of 10 patients under conventional treatment with DFO, before supplementary high-dose i.v. deferoxamine. In all 4 cases the alterations consisted of bilaterally delayed P100 latency, always obtained by stimulation with high spatial frequency (15' checks) and associated in three cases with low spatial frequency (55'). Computerized EEG (cEEG) studies showed a generalized increase of slowing activity. All patients underwent high-dose DFO treatment. RESULTS: At the control performed at the end of treatment in all 4 cases with previous VEP alterations, a further delay in P100 latency was observed bilaterally while two of the six patients, without previous involvement, showed delayed responses when using checks of 15'. The EEG slowing activity was not modified. Three weeks after terminating i.v. DFO therapy, the patients were still under subcutaneous treatment (50 mg/kg/day); a more evident VEP recovery towards the initial values was observed in those patients without initial alterations. No significant changes were found between electrophysiological parameters and serum ferritin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that high-dose DFO therapy in patients with iron overload induces reversible visual impairment without significant changes in brain electrical activity. The employment of VEP in intensive chelation programs in thalassemia major is discussed.
Adolescent↗