Biomedical subjects

Roberta Bombardieri

Publications and source records attributed to Roberta Bombardieri.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Hypohidrosis during topiramate treatment: a rare and reversible side effect.

Topiramate is an antiepileptic drug with a beneficial clinical effect on various seizure types. Topiramate does not seem to be associated with serious adverse effects and is also well tolerated in pediatric patients. Only few cases of hypohidrosis have been described. This report presents one young patient with complex partial seizures who was medicated with topiramate when she developed fatigue, headache, intermittent hyperthermia, inability to produce sweat secretion, and dryness of the skin. Reduced sweat response was determined using the Wescor Macroduct collection procedure. Topiramate was discontinued, and within 3 weeks a repeat sweat test was completely normal. At that time, clinical signs had also disappeared. Hypohidrosis is an uncommon and reversible side effect reported in association with topiramate therapy. It is rare in patients on monotherapy. Although a definite causal relationship still needs to be established, this side effect might be attributed to an autonomic dysfunction by inhibition of isoenzymes of carbonic anhydrase localized in human eccrine sweat glands.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed2006

Current management for epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis complex.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article reviews the most significant advances in the field of epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex, with emphasis on new advances in the knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms of epileptogenicity, progress in identifying the epileptogenic zone, and the rationale for surgical management in individuals with intractable seizures. RECENT FINDINGS: Advances in our understanding of the mechanisms and genetics underlying infantile spasms and catastrophic epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex may facilitate more effective interventions. Early effective seizure control could significantly reduce the adverse developmental effects of chronic epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis. Vigabatrin is the first choice in the short-term treatment of infantile spasms. Some individuals, however, develop seizures that remain highly intractable. The factors that influence the intractability of epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex remain poorly understood. Multimodality neuroimaging has improved detection of epileptogenic foci, allowing an increased number of individuals to be evaluated for resective surgery. Epilepsy surgery is often associated with significant improvement of the neurologic outcome. SUMMARY: Epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis seems to arise from the interaction between multiple areas, all of which have increased excitability and reduced inhibition. Understanding the mechanisms of epileptogenesis might increase the availability of development of a more specific and efficacious treatment. New evidence suggests that it is possible to noninvasively identify children with tuberous sclerosis who are highly likely to become seizure free following surgical treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Deletion of the long arm of chromosome 6: report on a new case with intractable epilepsy.

Interstitial deletions in the terminal region of chromosome 6 are rare. The deletion most often occurs de novo. Mental retardation is always described. The most characteristic manifestations are microcephaly, micrognathia, hypotonia, typical facial appearance, strabismus, and congenital heart defects. Although this chromosomal syndrome does not appear to have a distinctive phenotype, epileptic seizures are uncommon in affected individuals. We report on a novel finding in a patient with the 46 XX karyotype and del(6)(q25-q26) who developed intractable epilepsy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2005

Intractable seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex: from molecular pathogenesis to the rationale for treatment.

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a multisystem autosomal dominant genetic disorder resulting from mutations in one of two genes, TSC1 and TSC2. Pathologically, tuberous sclerosis complex is characterized by abnormal cellular differentiation and proliferation, as well as abnormal neuronal migration. Epilepsy occurs in about 90% of patients, with onset frequently in the first year of life. In a sizable proportion of individuals, seizures tend to be refractory to antiepileptic drug treatment. This article reviews the progress in understanding drug-resistant seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex, from molecular pathogenesis to the pathophysiologic mechanisms of epileptogenesis, and the rationale for appropriate medical and surgical treatment.

Brain↗

PubMed2002

Tuberous sclerosis complex: a review of neurological aspects.

Tuberous sclerosis complex is characterized by hamartomatous lesions involving skin, brain, kidneys, eyes and heart. Pathologically, tuberous sclerosis is a disorder of cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. Cell lineage and cell migration disorders in the developing cortex of tuberous sclerosis complex patients might produce very different neurological phenotypes including epilepsy, cognitive impairment and autism. Cortical tubers constitute the hallmark of the disease and are pathognomonic of cerebral tuberous sclerosis. Epilepsy is the most common neurological feature, occurring in 96% of patients. Seizures often begin in the first months of life and are frequently severe and intractable. The treatment of seizures has recently benefited from the advent of the new anti-epileptic drugs. Selected drug-resistant patients with tuberous sclerosis complex could be considered for surgical treatment. Clear localization of the most active epileptogenic focus and the zone of the cortical abnormality may lead to tuberectomy and improved seizure control in selective drug-resistant patients. The finding of multiple areas of cerebral involvement should not automatically preclude epilepsy surgery in a child with intractable seizures and a well defined seizure origin.

Anticonvulsants↗