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The relationship of epileptic auras and psychological attributes.

Studies suggest a high frequency of epileptic auras with intellectual content among epileptic patients with psychopathology and personality disorders. This study compared measures of personality and psychosocial functioning between epileptic patients with cognitive auras and epileptic patients with noncognitive auras. Ten patients with complex partial seizures who experienced cognitive auras had consistently more depressive traits and psychosocial difficulties than 50 patients with other psychic or nonpsychic auras, particularly if the patients with cognitive auras had left hemisphere epileptiform foci. Cognitive auras may be associated with depressive traits among epileptic patients. The findings were also in agreement with studies that relate the left hemisphere to depression.

Adult↗

Nocturnal prolactin and growth hormone levels in children with complex partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

This study measures whether there is a rise in the secretion of nocturnal prolactin and growth hormone (GH), during the delta phase of the first sleep cycle in children who are suffering from either complex partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The findings are compared with those obtained in the control group of patients which is made up who suffer from pseudoseizures. There is a moderate but significant rise in the nocturnal prolactin plasma level in both types of infantile seizures. No significant difference was found in the GH.

Child↗

[Epilepsy with continuous discharges during slow-wave sleep. Treatment with clobazam].

The authors describe the case of a 12 years old boy suffering from an epilepsy with complex partial seizures evolving to a syndrome of epilepsy with continuous spikes-waves during sleep. A dramatic improvement follows clobazam introduction in the treatment. The originality of this case report and the possible mechanism of action of clobazam are discussed.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

Progesterone therapy in women with complex partial and secondary generalized seizures.

This open trial assessed the effects of adjunctive progesterone therapy on seizure frequency in 25 women with catamenial exacerbation of complex partial (CPS) and secondary generalized motor (SGMS) seizures. Progesterone was well tolerated by 23 of the 25 women and had readily reversible dose-related side effects of asthenia and emotional depression in two. Eighteen women (72%) experienced a decline in seizure frequency during a 3-month treatment period compared with the 3 months prior to therapy (p < 0.01). Average daily CPS frequency declined by 54% (p < 0.01), SGMS by 58% (p < 0.02).

Adolescent↗

Temporal lobectomy for complex partial seizures that began in childhood.

Forty-six consecutive patients who underwent surgery for intractable temporal lobe seizures originating in childhood are reported; invasive preoperative monitoring (e.g., depth electrodes and subdural arrays) was not used in the selection process. Our results, with respect to the control of seizures and improvement in behavior, are comparable to those of series in which invasive monitoring was used in the selection process. Eighty-five percent of the 46 patients (96% of the 28 operated after the introduction of long-term electroencephalographic monitoring) became either seizure free or experienced near total control of their seizures. Our results indicate that many patients can be selected successfully for temporal resection without exposure to the risk and expense of invasive presurgical procedures. A long duration of epilepsy prior to surgery in patients with neoplasia portended a less satisfactory outcome. Our results strengthen the argument for early operation in children with intractable epilepsy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Neuronal synchrony in relation to burst discharge in epileptic human temporal lobes.

1. Synchronous interactions between neurons in mesial temporal structures of patients with complex partial seizures were studied using cross-correlation analyses. We recorded spontaneous activity from 293 neurons in 24 patients during the interictal state. Patients had depth microelectrodes chronically implanted in amygdala, hippocampal formation, and parahippocampal gyrus to record epileptic activity. One hundred twenty-five cells were recorded from the temporal lobe commonly initiating seizures (ipsilateral temporal lobe), and 168 cells from the contralateral temporal lobe. Eight hundred forty-three cross-correlograms were constructed between all pairs of simultaneously recorded neurons. Cross-correlogram peaks or troughs that exceeded confidence limits within 200 ms of the origin were considered evidence of synchronous neuronal interaction. 2. Synchronous neuronal interactions were observed in 223 of 843 cross-correlograms. Eighty-six percent of these 223 cross-correlograms showed significant central peaks (peak interactions), suggesting excitatory interactions, whereas the remainder displayed significant central troughs (trough interactions), suggesting inhibitory interactions. 3. Cross-correlograms constructed using cells from the ipsilateral temporal lobe (ipsilateral cross-correlograms) were more likely to display significant central troughs (14/262) than cross-correlograms constructed using cells from the contralateral temporal lobe (6/376; contralateral cross-correlograms). Similarly, cross-correlograms constructed using one cell from each hemisphere (11/205; bilateral cross-correlograms) were also more likely to display significant central troughs (trough interactions) than contralateral cross-correlograms. Both ipsilateral (77/262) and contralateral cross-correlograms (102/376) were more likely to display significant central peaks (peak interactions) than bilateral cross-correlograms (13/205). 4. Cells from different structures in the ipsilateral temporal lobe were more likely to display significant trough interactions (10/ 114) than neurons in different contralateral structures. We also compared the proportion of significant peak interactions between cells within the ipsilateral and contralateral sides of each structure. Neurons in the contralateral entorhinal cortex were more likely to show peak interactions (21/55) than cells from the ipsilateral entorhinal cortex (3/31). Also, cells in the ipsilateral presubiculum showed a higher proportion of peak interactions (9/16) than their contralateral homologues (5/30). 5. Neuronal burst discharges were defined as three or more action potentials (or spikes) separated by interspike intervals of < or = 30 ms, or two spikes separated by an interval of < or = 15 ms. The contribution of burst discharge to synchronous peak interaction was compared between temporal lobes. Cells used to construct ipsilateral cross-correlograms displaying significant central peaks (n = 154) were found to have significantly reduced burst discharge contributions to the observed synchronous peaks in comparison with their contralateral homologues (n = 204). When cross-correlograms were separated by regions, burst discharge contributions to synchronous peak interactions between cells in the ipsilateral hippocampus (n = 72) were significantly smaller than the contributions from cells in the contralateral hippocampus (n = 44). 6. The results suggest that in the interictal state, synchronous neuronal burst discharge is not a distinguishing feature of epileptogenic regions of patients with complex partial seizures, but inhibitory neuronal interactions are increased in regions of seizure initiation. Increases in the strength and spread of local inhibition in seizure initiating regions in these patients may result in a greater proportion of inhibitory interactions and could also cause increased synchrony between isolated action potentials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Action Potentials↗

Psychomotor seizures of temporal lobe onset: analysis of symptom clusters and sequences.

We analyzed 91 psychomotor seizures from 31 patients seizure free at least one year after temporal lobectomy (implying temporal lobe onset). Fifty symptoms were looked for in every seizure and their time of onset and ending noted. Statistical analysis was used to define symptom clusters and the order of appearance of symptoms. Of the eighteen most common symptoms examined, all of these symptoms form a tight cluster showing a high degree of correlation. Within this cluster, there was a tendency towards the following subclusters: (a) epigastric aura, ictal vomiting, alimentary and hand automatisms; (b) behavioral arrest, complete loss of consciousness, staring and bilateral facial contraction; (c) unilateral dystonic posturing of an arm, mimetic automatisms, complex gestures, ictal speech and partial loss of consciousness; (d) looking around, agitation, vocalizations and whole body movements. We also found a strong correlation between epigastric sensation and ictal vomiting in psychomotor seizures arising from the right but not the left temporal lobe. The commonest sequence of symptoms was: behavioral arrest followed by alimentary and hand automatisms, looking around and whole body movements, in that order.

Cluster Analysis↗

Mesial temporal versus lateral temporal interictal epileptiform activity: comparison of chronic and acute intracranial recordings.

Intracranial interictal epileptiform activity (EA) was recorded by chronic stereotactic depth electroencephalography (SDEEG) and acute electrocorticography (ECOG) in 22 patients with complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin. Chronic SDEEG recordings defined two groups of patients with respect to the presence or absence of lateral temporal EA; 13 patients showed independent lateral temporal EA during chronic recordings and 9 patients did not. All patients had EA recorded from mesial temporal structures during SDEEG. The presence of lateral temporal EA was correlated with a higher pre-operative seizure frequency but not with ictal onset zones, structural pathology, age at onset of epilepsy, or duration of epilepsy. Results of acute ECOG recordings performed on the same patients 1-24 months after SDEEG accurately reproduced the mesial versus lateral distribution of EA within patients (P < 0.0003). Though ECOG was less sensitive than SDEEG in demonstrating EA confined to mesial structures, positive findings at ECOG were 100% specific with respect to SDEEG. These results suggest that, at least with respect to mesial temporal versus lateral temporal structures, there is a constancy within patients in the distribution of interictal EA recorded with chronic intracranial electrodes. In addition, acute ECOG provides an accurate representation of individual patients' interictal EA.

Adult↗

Clinical management of a man with complex partial seizures and a severe head injury.

A case history of a man with complex partial seizures resulting from a severe head injury following a road traffic accident is presented. Details of medical intervention and neuropsychological assessment are also presented and discussed, highlighting the difficulties of balancing therapeutic doses of anticonvulsant medication with cognitive functioning adequate to maintain expected quality of life. An interesting finding revealed that the patient's blood-sodium levels increased rather than decreased with rising doses of anticonvulsant medication.

Adult↗

Adult-onset complex partial seizures as the presenting sign in colpocephaly: MRI and PET correlates.

In a 30-year-old man, adult-onset complex partial seizures were associated with colpocephaly as evident from magnetic resonance images. The structurally normal lateral neocortex of the right temporal lobe showed a severe reduction in regional glucose consumption corresponding to the epileptic focus as judged from the surface electroencephalogram. In contrast to previously reported patients, this patient had no focal neurological signs, and neuropsychological testing revealed normal general intelligence. Thus, this patient adds a benign variant to the clinical spectrum of this cerebral developmental disorder.

Adult↗

Temporal lobe interictal epileptic discharges affect cerebral activity in "default mode" brain regions.

A cerebral network comprising precuneus, medial frontal, and temporoparietal cortices is less active both during goal-directed behavior and states of reduced consciousness than during conscious rest. We tested the hypothesis that the interictal epileptic discharges affect activity in these brain regions in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who have complex partial seizures. At the group level, using electroencephalography-correlated functional magnetic resonance imaging in 19 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy, we found common decreases of resting state activity in 9 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) but not in 10 patients with extra-TLE. We infer that the functional consequences of TLE interictal epileptic discharges are different from those in extra-TLE and affect ongoing brain function. Activity increases were detected in the ipsilateral hippocampus in patients with TLE, and in subthalamic, bilateral superior temporal and medial frontal brain regions in patients with extra-TLE, possibly indicating effects of different interictal epileptic discharge propagation.

Auditory Cortex↗

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus in the emergency room.

PURPOSE: The study reviewed emergent cases of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) to evaluate causes of diagnostic and management delay and examined frequent diagnostic features suggestive of NCSE. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we assessed the clinical presentation of 23 patients with one or more NCSE episodes, their medical history, EEG, and antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. We also evaluated causes of diagnostic delay in patients referred to the emergency room (ER) in confusional states. RESULTS: There was considerable overlap in clinical features of patients with complex partial SE (CPSE) and generalized nonconvulsive SE (GNSE). Delays in seeking medical attention were common. Diagnosis was significantly delayed in 10 patients. Three cases illustrate the possible markedly different presentations of NCSE. CONCLUSIONS: NCSE often goes unrecognized or is mistaken for behavioral or psychiatric disturbance. The pleomorphic clinical presentation of NCSE indicates that EEG and a therapeutic trial of AEDs afford the best diagnostic measures in acute waxing and waning confusional states associated with agitation, bizarre behavior, staring, increased tone, mutism, or subtle myoclonus.

Adult↗

[Mesial temporal sclerosis (I): histological data, physiopathological hypothesis and etiological factors].

OBJECTIVE: To review the main anatomical, histological, physiopathological and aetiological data characteristic of the mesial temporal sclerosis syndrome (ETM). Development. The typical histological findings in ETM are: 1) A specific pattern of loss of neurone density which includes so-called endfolium sclerosis (considered to be a specific pathological entity always found in ETM), and which is usually accompanied by neurone loss in other hippocampal and extra-hippocampal regions. The CA2 region is never affected. 2) Phenomenon of 'mossy fibers sprouting' which are granulosa cells which form two types of synapses: with the the 'basket cells' which are inhibitory interneurones and with the dendrites of granulosa or pyramidal cells of the CA1, CA2 and CA3 Ammon horn cells which are excitatory cells. CONCLUSIONS: Probably these organic changes are both the cause and effect of repeated convulsions. Participation in this self-perpetuating circuit may be due to recognised risk factors of ETM (head injury, CNS infections, febrile convulsions in early stages of development) which cause, first of all, death of neurones of the dentate gyrus cells followed by reduced inhibitory activity of the 'basket' cells and therefore sustained hyper-excitability of the pyramidal cells (especially in the CA3 regions), which are responsible for complex partial seizures and massive liberation of glutamic acid. Glutamic acid can cause death of neurones of the granulosa cells of the dentate gyrus, thus closing the circuit. This hypothesis explains the progressive nature of the ETM syndrome. When there is pathology of the cortical structure there is another access via to this circuit--by means of cortical discharges of the so-called perforant pathway which stimulates activity of the pyramidal cells and sets off the chain of events described above. This hypothesis explains the so-called 'dual pathology'.

Brain Injuries↗

Speech during partial seizures: intracranial EEG correlates.

Vocalization during a seizure may help predict the location of seizure onset or identify structures ultimately involved in the seizure. Spontaneous vocalization during seizures was studied retrospectively in 22 patients with refractory complex partial seizures evaluated with bilateral intracranial electrodes. Of 22 patients, 12 vocalized during seizures. Seizures were as likely to originate from language-dominant (6/12) as from language-nondominant mesial temporal cortex (6/12). Fluent speech frequently occurred as seizure activity was recorded from language-dominant temporal lobe neocortex (6/12 seizures). Of the patients with well-localized seizure onsets who did not speak (6/10), seizures arose from both language-dominant and -nondominant mesial temporal cortex. We conclude that the presence or absence of vocalizations during a seizure does not reliably indicate the anatomic regions in which the seizure begins or spreads.

Adult↗

[Memory disorders in epileptic patients].

The author studied the mnemonic activity from epileptic patients with complex partial seizures (CPS), with the aims: 1) to identify memory disorders; and 2) to compare the patients' with the controls' results. Fifty adult patients and 20 subjects without neuropsychiatric disorders were studied. The methods consisted in: 1) investigation of the mnemonic activity through the Wechsler Memory Test (subtests: Storage and Recall, Recent Memory, and Immediate Memory); 2) comparison among the results of both groups; association from mnemonic activity with brain SPECT. In the three subtests, the patients showed cognitive performance significantly lower than the controls (p < 0.05). It was found association from reduced blood flow, mainly in left temporal region, with memory impairment of the three subtetsts. The conclusion was that the CPS are associated to memory impairment.

Adolescent↗

Global aphasia with seizure onset in the dominant basal temporal region.

A 33-year-old right-handed woman had intractable simple and complex partial seizures (SPS, CPS) that began with global aphasia. EEG closed-circuit TV (EEG-CCTV) monitoring with sphenoidal electrodes showed left inferomesial temporal ictal onset of CPS. Subdural electrodes were implanted over the left frontotemporal convexity, subtemporally and subfrontally. Stimulation of the basotemporal cortex produced global aphasia. A posterolaterotemporal language area was also identified. Spontaneous SPS had focal onset in the basal temporal language area (BTLA). Ictal discharges did not involve the posterotemporal region. This case shows that aphasic speech arrest at seizure onset may be due to seizure discharge in the basotemporal region and that the BTLA is clinically relevant in seizure semiology.

Adult↗