Biomedical subjects

R Archila

Publications and source records attributed to R Archila.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Reversible dementia and apparent brain atrophy during valproate therapy.

Two children developed severe cognitive and behavioral deterioration suggestive of a degenerative disease while being treated with sodium valproate for idiopathic, localization-related epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed marked central and generalized cortical and cerebellar atrophy. In both patients, clinical symptoms and signs cleared in a few weeks following valproate withdrawal. The magnetic resonance imaging appearance improved within 3 months in 1 of the patients and normalized in both after 6 and 12 months. No metabolic changes were associated with the clinical or imaging abnormalities. Although the mechanism of this rare idiosyncratic complication of valproate therapy is unknown, we advocate discontinuing valproate therapy in all epileptic patients with neuromental deterioration or brain atrophy of unknown etiology.

Atrophy↗

PubMed1984

[Not Available].

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Americas↗

PubMed1970

[Not Available].

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History, Modern 1601-↗

PubMed1970

[Not Available].

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History, Modern 1601-↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Lennox-Gastaut syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: The Lennox-Gestaut syndrome is classified as an epileptic syndrome shown by the presence of various types of generalized seizures (tonic, atonic and atypical absences) which appear at a certain age (1-8 years), with an interictal EEG showing an abnormally slow basic rhythm interrupted by slow spike-and-wave complexes (< 3 Hz) and progressive mental deterioration. DEVELOPMENT: From the aetiological point of view there are cryptogenic (25%) and symptomatic (75%) forms. There is a previous history of West syndrome in 9.4-30% of the symptomatic cases. The commonest types of seizures are tonic (17-95%), atypical absences (17-60%) and atonic (25-56%). The mixed form of an epileptic state with typical absences and tonic seizures is the most frequent (27%). Follow-up studies show that in 90% and 100% of cryptogenic and symptomatic patients, respectively, mental retardation develops and the initial seizures persist in 67% and 45% of the patients with cryptogenic and symptomatic forms respectively, when they become adults. CONCLUSIONS: There is still no successful treatment for these seizures and progressive mental deterioration occurs even when using the newer anti-epileptic drugs. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve seems a promising possibility but further experience is necessary.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Epilepsy and learning disorders].

INTRODUCTION: Children with epilepsy have more behavioral and cognitive problem than children with other chronic illness and children in the general population. Risk factors are multiple probably involving a combination of seizure, family and child variable, behavioral problems (depression, occur frequently but may be unrecognized). Anxiety disorders and psychoses are less common. DEVELOPMENT: The learning and behavioral found in epileptic children is multifactorial, first the effects of the conditions causing the epilepsy, in addition the epilepsy itself may cause, change in the nervous system through the metabolic and excitatory effects of the seizure and the neurotransmitter elements involved at the membrane level. The effects of the treatment modality, be it pharmacology or surgical may also play havoc with cognition function. CONCLUSION: The neurobehavioral effects of antiepileptic drug although probably less important with the newer agent than in the past, must be considered especially in polypharmacy as recent report have in dictated.

Anticonvulsants↗