PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R B Loewenson

Publications and source records attributed to R B Loewenson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Adverse behavioral response to clonazepam as a function of Verbal IQ-Performance IQ discrepancy.

Eight of 38 consecutive patients who received clonazepam had significant behavioral side effects. In these 8 patients, the mean absolute IQ discordance between Verbal IQ (VIQ) and Performance IQ (PIQ) was 17.5 points. Thirty of 38 patients had no adverse behavioral side effects while receiving clonazepam. In these 30 patients, the mean absolute VIQ-PIQ discrepancy was 6.5 points. Full neuropsychological testing had been performed on all patients. The only test variable showing a statistically significant difference was the absolute discrepancy between VIQ and PIQ (P less than 0.0001).

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adjunctive therapy for intractable epilepsy with ethotoin.

In a retrospective study, records of 46 patients (24 women and 22 men aged 17-51 years; mean 29.2 years), who had been treated with ethotoin (EHN) as adjunctive therapy for control of intractable seizures were reviewed. Overall, approximately 51% of this highly selected patient population had a reduction greater than 50% in overall seizure frequency 1 month after initiation of treatment. This was reduced to approximately 25% for the last 3 months of follow-up (mean follow-up period 10.6 months). Tonic seizure frequency was reduced most dramatically, by greater than 50%, in 60% of patients at 1 month and in 35% of patients for the last 3 months of follow-up. This study suggests that prospective controlled trials of EHN, especially for tonic seizures, are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nonepileptic events in childhood.

The medical records of 27 children admitted to the MINCEP Epilepsy Program for evaluation of intractable epilepsy but later shown to have nonepileptic events by EEG with simultaneous video monitoring were reviewed. Four groups were identified: pure psychogenic events (5 patients), psychogenic events plus epileptic seizures (3 patients), pure nonepileptic physiologic events (5 patients), and nonepileptic physiologic events plus seizures (14 patients). Historical data, physical examinations, and neurodiagnostic evaluations (including previous EEGs, neuroradiologic evaluations, and neuropsychologic testing) were reviewed. Children in all groups, except for those with pure psychogenic seizures, had a history of multiple seizure types identified by parents or caretakers. A history of status epilepticus was obtained in 64% (of 22 patients), including 11 of 14 patients with physiologic events plus seizures. Abnormal findings on neurologic examination were common, especially in children with nonepileptic physiologic events. All but two patients had a history of interictal epileptiform abnormalities on previous routine EEGs. Based on identification of nonepileptic events, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were discontinued completely in eight patients (30%) and the total number of AEDs was reduced in nine others (33%). A diagnosis of nonepileptic events should be considered in all children with refractory seizures or multiple seizure types. Abnormal findings on routine (interictal) EEG may actually confound the diagnosis. Intensive neurodiagnostic EEG-video recording is the preferred method for distinguishing nonepileptic from epileptic seizures.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebral atherosclerosis and its relationship to selected diseases in Nigerians: a pathological study.

Factors which are known to be associated with cerebral atherosclerosis were evaluated in Nigerian Africans. Of 465 autopsied adult Nigerians, 62 (13%) had cerebral atherosclerosis. The frequency and severity of atherosclerosis among Nigerians with hypertension, particularly male subjects, were higher than in normotensives. Although there was a similar frequency of hypertension among autopsied Nigerian and Minnesota Caucasian populations, the severity and extent of atherosclerosis were greater in the Minnesota Caucasian populations, the severity and extent of atherosclerosis were greater in the Minnesota population. The relatively short duration of hypertension in the Nigerian before death might be an important factor which did not permit progressive development of cerebral atherosclerosis. Other factors which predisposed the Nigerian to increased frequency and severity of atherosclerosis included increased heart weight and diabetes mellitus. The relatively low frequency of cerebrovascular disease in the Nigerian may be explained on the basis of a low degree of cerebral atherosclerosis and relatively short duration of hypertension.

Adolescent↗