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P Crumrine

Publications and source records attributed to P Crumrine.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Practice parameter: treatment of the child with a first unprovoked seizure: Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society.

The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society develop practice parameters as strategies for patient management based on analysis of evidence regarding risks and benefits. This parameter reviews published literature relevant to the decision to begin treatment after a child or adolescent experiences a first unprovoked seizure and presents evidence-based practice recommendations. Reasons why treatment may be considered are discussed. Evidence is reviewed concerning risk of recurrence as well as effect of treatment on prevention of recurrence and development of chronic epilepsy. Studies of side effects of anticonvulsants commonly used to treat seizures in children are also reviewed. Relevant articles are classified according to the Quality Standards Subcommittee classification scheme. Treatment after a first unprovoked seizure appears to decrease the risk of a second seizure, but there are few data from studies involving only children. There appears to be no benefit of treatment with regard to the prognosis for long-term seizure remission. Antiepileptic drugs (AED) carry risks of side effects that are particularly important in children. The decision as to whether or not to treat children and adolescents who have experienced a first unprovoked seizure must be based on a risk-benefit assessment that weighs the risk of having another seizure against the risk of chronic AED therapy. The decision should be individualized and take into account both medical issues and patient and family preference.

Adolescent↗

Practice parameter: evaluating a first nonfebrile seizure in children: report of the quality standards subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, The Child Neurology Society, and The American Epilepsy Society.

OBJECTIVE: The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology develops practice parameters as strategies for patient management based on analysis of evidence. For this practice parameter, the authors reviewed available evidence on evaluation of the first nonfebrile seizure in children in order to make practice recommendations based on this available evidence. METHODS: Multiple searches revealed relevant literature and each article was reviewed, abstracted, and classified. Recommendations were based on a three-tiered scheme of classification of the evidence. RESULTS: Routine EEG as part of the diagnostic evaluation was recommended; other studies such as laboratory evaluations and neuroimaging studies were recommended as based on specific clinical circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed using large, well-characterized samples and standardized data collection instruments. Collection of data regarding appropriate timing of evaluations would be important.

Adolescent↗

Methylphenidate in children with seizures and attention-deficit disorder.

This study assessed the safety and efficacy of methylphenidate in children with seizures and attention-deficit disorder. Ten children, aged 6 years 10 months to 10 years 10 months, without seizures while receiving a single antiepileptic drug, were evaluated in a double-blind medication-placebo crossover study with methylphenidate hydrochloride was administered at 0.3 mg/kg per dose and given at 8 AM and 12 PM on school days only. The use of methylphenidate was associated with statistically significant improvements on the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale and on the Finger Tapping Task and with trends toward improvement on the Matching Familiar Figures Test and Discriminant Reaction Time tests. No child had seizures during the study period nor subsequently for those who continued receiving psychostimulants. There were no significant changes of epileptiform features or back-ground activity on electroencephalograms and no alterations in antiepileptic drug levels. Methylphenidate may be a safe and effective treatment for certain children with seizures and concurrent attention-deficit disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

Neonatal seizures.

Neonatal seizures, as distinguished from nonconvulsive abnormal movements, are a significant problem in neonatal intensive care units. Clinical diagnosis without EEG confirmation is difficult. By virtue of brain metabolic and peripheral physiologic effects, seizures may damage the immature brain. The approach to neonatal seizures should be systematic and directed at establishing the primary etiology. On the basis of tradition, phenobarbital is currently the drug of first choice in the treatment of neonatal seizures. A significant number of neonates with seizures have poor outcomes, and both duration of seizure activity and numbers of anticonvulsants required in treatment predict the outcome.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗

Neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy: clinical, pathologic, and biochemical delineation of a syndrome affecting both males and females.

We describe the detailed clinical, pathologic, and biochemical features of brother and sister with the neonatal onset form of adrenoleukodystrophy, together with evidence of the biochemical defect. When compared with reports of previous cases, it becomes clear that this is a newly described clinical entity with remarkable uniformity of signs and very different from the usual childhood form. Some pathologic features are shared, including the morphologic abnormality of the adrenal in both neonatal and childhood forms, but deposition of abnormally metabolized lipids is more systemic and widespread in the neonatal form. The biochemistry of the disease is presented in both children and parents. Plasma values of long-chain fatty acid C26:0 are 0.328 +/- 0.18 micrograms/ml in a control population and 0.381 +/- 0.312 micrograms/ml in the father and mother. Values for C26:0 in the plasma of childhood adrenoleukodystrophy are 1.62 +/- 0.87 micrograms/ml and in our two cases, 2.79 micrograms/ml in the male, 1.83 micrograms/ml in the female. The basic biochemical defect appears to be a diminished capacity to oxidize these fatty acids leading to accumulation in cholesterol esters. Fatty acid oxidation to CO2 by cultured skin fibroblasts was 51% of control value for stearic acid, 5% for lignoceric acid in the male, and 39% of control value for stearic acid, 5% for lignoceric acid in the female. The genetics of this disease is different; whereas childhood adrenoleukodystrophy is X-linked, the neonatal onset form affects males and females equally and is most probably autosomally recessive in inheritance.

Adrenal Glands↗

A new, treatable source of recurrent meningitis: basioccipital meningocele.

A 19-month-old boy suffered eight episodes of bacterial meningitis. During the ninth episode a meningocele of the basioccipital clivus communicating with the nasopharynx was discovered. Identification of the organism causing the episodes of meningitis was not helpful in pointing to the site of this congenital anatomic defect. Surgical closure of the defect has prevented further recurrences.

Humans↗

Computed tomography in white-matter disease.

CT scans of 11 patients with proved white-matter disease were reviewed and divided into three categories. The demyelinating (secondary) and diffuse sclerosis groups frequently exhibited abnormal intravenous enhancement and mass shift. This made differentiation from inflammatory and neoplastic processes difficult. In the dysmyelinating disorders, pathologically noted diffuse loss of white matter and absence of inflammatory response appeared on the scans as areas of diffuse and decreased density in the centrum semiovale. There was no evidence of abnormal contrast enhancement.

Adult↗