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Biomedical subjects

H O Lüders

Publications and source records attributed to H O Lüders.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Predictors of outcome after temporal lobectomy for the treatment of intractable epilepsy.

To assess short- and long-term seizure freedom, the authors reviewed 371 patients who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy to treat pharmacoresistant epilepsy. The mean follow-up duration was 5.5 years (range 1 to 14.1 years). Fifty-three percent of patients were seizure free at 10 years. The authors identified multiple predictors of recurrence. Results of EEG performed 6 months postoperatively correlated with occurrence and severity of seizure recurrence, in addition to breakthrough seizures with discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs.

Anterior Temporal Lobectomy↗

[Suggestion for a new, patient-oriented epilepsy classification].

The recent proposal by the ILAE Task Force for Epilepsy Classification is a multiaxial, syndrome-oriented approach. Epilepsy syndromes--at least as defined by the ILAE Task Force--group patients according to multiple, usually poorly defined parameters. As a result, these syndromes frequently show significant overlap and may change with patient age. We propose a five-dimensional and patient-oriented approach to epilepsy classification. This approach shifts away from syndrome orientation, using independent criteria in each of the five dimensions similarly to the diagnostic process in general neurology. The main dimensions of this new classification consist of (1) localizing the epileptogenic zone, (2) semiology of the seizure, (3) etiology, (4) seizure frequency, and (5) related medical conditions. These dimensions characterize all information necessary for patient management, are independent parameters, and include information more pertinent than the ILAE axes with regard to patient management. All cases can be classified according to this five-dimensional system, even at initial encounter when no detailed test results are available. Information from clinical tests such as MRI and EEG are translated into the best possible working hypothesis at the time of classification, allowing increased precision of the classification as additional information becomes available.

Epilepsy↗

Seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery in patients with normal preoperative MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcome after epilepsy surgery in patients with normal preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: 24 adult and paediatric patients with normal preoperative MRIs were studied. They underwent epilepsy surgery between 1994 and 2001 and had at least one year of follow up. RESULTS: At the most recent follow up, nine patients (37%) were seizure-free and 18 (75%) had at least a 90% reduction in seizure frequency with weekly or monthly seizures. Seizure freedom was not significantly different after resections in frontal (5/9) or temporal regions (4/13) (p = 0.24, Fisher's exact test), or among patients with or without localising features on EEG, PET, or ictal SPECT. Subdural grids, used in 15 of 24 patients, helped tailor resections but were not associated with differences in outcome. Histopathology showed cortical dysplasia in 10 patients (42%), non-specific findings in 13 (54%), and hippocampal sclerosis in one (4%). Cortical dysplasia was seen in seven patients with frontal resection (78%) and non-specific findings in nine (69%) with temporal resection. Seizure outcome did not differ on the basis of location of resection or histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: While these results were less favourable than expected for patients with focal epileptogenic lesions seen on MRI, they represented worthwhile improvement for this patient population with high preoperative seizure burden. In this highly selected group, no single test or combination of tests further predicted postoperative seizure outcome.

Adolescent↗

Temporal lobe volumes in patients with hippocampal sclerosis with or without cortical dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Recent MRI-based volume reconstruction studies in intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) due to hippocampal sclerosis (HS) suggested atrophy that extends to the adjacent neocortical areas. OBJECTIVE: To study the extent of temporal lobe volume (TLV) abnormalities in patients with pathologically confirmed HS (with or without cortical dysplasia [CD]) who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy for the treatment of drug-resistant TLE. METHODS: Fifty patients (right TLE: n = 24; left TLE: n = 26) were found to have HS (hippocampal cell loss of >30%). Associated neocortical CD was seen in 20 patients (43%). MRI-based TLVs and hippocampal and hemispheric volume reconstructions in all patients were compared between pathologic groups and with volumes acquired from 10 age-matched control subjects. RESULTS: TLVs ipsilateral to the epileptogenic zone in patients with TLE were smaller than TLVs in control subjects (p < 0.01). In patients with left TLE, TLVs ipsilateral to the epileptogenic zone were smaller than contralateral TLVs (left: 66.6 +/- 8.3 cm3, right: 74.9 +/- 10.0 cm3; p < 0.001). In patients with right TLE, there were no significant asymmetries. The contralateral TLVs (regardless of the side of surgery) were smaller in the HS + CD group than the HS group (HS + CD group: 74.9 +/- 8.6 cm3, HS group: 79.7 +/- 6.6 cm3; p < 0.05). Patients with HS + CD had a tendency to have less hippocampal atrophy and slightly smaller TLVs ipsilateral to the epileptogenic zone, accounting for significantly smaller TLV/hippocampal volume ratios compared with patients with HS alone. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-resistant TLE due to HS is associated with extrahippocampal temporal lobe atrophy. The presence of bilateral temporal lobe atrophy is suggestive of a more widespread (bilateral) temporal lobe involvement in patients with HS and CD.

Adolescent↗

Terminology and classification of the cortical dysplasias.

BACKGROUND: There have been difficulties in achieving a uniform terminology in the literature regarding issues of classification with respect to focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) associated with epilepsy. OBJECTIVE: S: To review and refine the current terminology and classification issues of potential clinical relevance to epileptologists, neuroradiologists, and neuropathologists dealing with FCD. METHODS: A panel discussion of epileptologists, neuropathologists, and neuroradiologists with special expertise in FCD was held. RESULTS: The panel proposed 1) a specific terminology for the different types of abnormal cells encountered in the cerebral cortex of patients with FCD; 2) a reappraisal of the different histopathologic abnormalities usually subsumed under the term "microdysgenesis," and suggested that this terminology be abandoned; and 3) a more detailed yet straightforward classification of the various histopathologic features that usually are included under the heterogeneous term of "focal cortical dysplasia." CONCLUSION: The panel hopes that these proposals will stimulate the debate toward more specific clinical, imaging, histopathologic, and prognostic correlations in patients with FCD associated with epilepsy.

Brain Diseases↗

New-onset mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in a 90-year-old: clinical and EEG features.

Although there is a peak in the incidence of epilepsy in the elderly compared with the general population, complex partial seizures represent less than 15% of the seizure types reported. We report on a 92-year-old woman with a 2-year history of daily complex partial seizures. Prolonged video/EEG recording showed bilateral anterior mesial temporal interictal spikes, which predominated on the left, and two typical seizures arising from the left temporal area. Cranial MRI scanning showed multiple lacunar infarcts without temporal lobe involvement or mesial temporal atrophy. Our case appears to be oldest patient in the literature with newly diagnosed mesial temporal lobe epilepsy confirmed by video/EEG recording.

Age of Onset↗

Localising and lateralising value of ictal piloerection.

BACKGROUND: Piloerection is a rare clinical symptom described during seizures. Previous reports suggested that the temporal lobe is the ictal onset zone in many of these cases. One case series concluded that there is a predominant left hemispheric representation of ictal cold. The aim of this study is to evaluate the localising and lateralising value of pilomotor seizures. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring at the Cleveland Clinic between 1994 and 2001 were reviewed for the presence of ictal piloerection. The clinical history, physical and neurological examination, video EEG data, neuroimaging data, cortical stimulation results, and postoperative follow ups were reviewed and used to define the epileptogenic zone. Additionally, all previously reported cases of ictal piloerection were reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen patients with ictal piloerection were identified (0.4%). Twelve out of 14 patients had temporal lobe epilepsy. In seven patients (50%), the ictal onset was located in the left hemisphere. Four out of five patients with unilateral ictal piloerection had ipsilateral temporal lobe epilepsy as compared with the ipsilateral side of pilomotor response. Three patients became seizure free after left temporal lobectomy for at least 12 months of follow up. An ipsilateral left leg pilomotor response with simultaneously recorded after-discharges was elicited in one patient during direct cortical stimulation of the left parahippocampal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: Ictal piloerection is a rare ictal manifestation that occurs predominantly in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Unilateral piloerection is most frequently associated with ipsilateral focal epilepsy. No hemispheric predominance was found in patients with bilateral ictal piloerection.

Adolescent↗

Unilateral absence of the basal ganglia plus epilepsy without motor symptoms.

A patient with absence of the basal ganglia and refractory epilepsy without impairment of pyramidal or extrapyramidal motor function is reported. Imaging findings suggest a vascular insult as etiology. Preserved motor function could be explained by neuronal plasticity involving contralateral corticostriatal and pallidothalamic connections and points to a lesion received in early pregnancy.

Adolescent↗

[Electric brain stimulation for epilepsy therapy].

Attempts to control epileptic seizures by electrical brain stimulation have been performed for 50 years. Many different stimulation targets and methods have been investigated. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is now approved for the treatment of refractory epilepsies by several governmental authorities in Europe and North America. However, it is mainly used as a palliative method when patients do not respond to medical treatment and epilepsy surgery is not possible. Numerous studies of the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on epileptic seizures have been performed and almost invariably report remarkable success. However, a limited number of controlled studies failed to show a significant effect. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) also was effective in open studies, and controlled studies are now being carried out. In addition, several uncontrolled reports describe successful treatment of refractory status epilepticus with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In summary, with the targets and stimulation parameters investigated so far, the effects of electrical brain stimulation on seizure frequency have been moderate at best. In the animal laboratory, we are now testing high-intensity, low-frequency stimulation of white matter tracts directly connected to the epileptogenic zone (e.g., fornix, corpus callosum) as a new methodology to increase the efficacy of DBS ("overdrive method").

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

The impact of temporal lobe surgery on cure and mortality of drug-resistant epilepsy: summary of a workshop.

The Third International Spring Epilepsy Research Conference took place in Georgetown, Cayman Islands from April 26 to May 3, 2003. One workshop discussed the impact of epilepsy surgery on seizure outcome and mortality of antiepileptic drug (AED)-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. This article summarizes the information presented at this workshop. Although two-thirds of adult patients undergoing epilepsy surgery become seizure-free with continued AED treatment, current clinical experience shows that seizure recurrence occurs in one-third of patients when AEDs are withdrawn under medical supervision. Additional seizure recurrence occurring after AED taper, poor drug compliance and even while patients continue on AEDs after surgery leave only approximately one-third of patients cured after temporal lobe resection. Mostly because so many patients prefer to stay on AEDs although they are free of disabling seizures after surgery, a randomised controlled trial of AED discontinuation is needed to determine if in fact only one-third of patients are cured after surgery. Based on the functional anatomy of temporal lobe surgery two hypotheses are presented why only a minority of patients are cured after surgery. The type and the prognostic significance of seizures after surgery is discussed. Recent studies have suggested that successful temporal lobe surgery may be able to normalize the increased standard mortality ratio (SMR) of drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. However, pre-existing differences in SMR between those cured and those not cured by temporal lobe surgery and other unresolved methodological issues make it difficult at present to fully evaluate the impact of surgery on mortality. Future studies are thus warranted to specifically address the impact of temporal lobe surgery on cure and mortality.

Drug Resistance↗

Electrophysiology of focal clonic seizures in humans: a study using subdural and depth electrodes.

Focal clonic seizures are a frequent epileptic phenomenon. However, there are few data about their pathogenesis. Eleven patients with focal epilepsy who experienced focal clonic seizures during prolonged video-EEG monitoring were included in this study. Nine patients had subdural electrodes on the precentral gyrus and one patient had additional bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) depth electrodes. In five patients, the EEG was co-registered with the EMG of muscles which were involved in the clonic seizures. The frequency, pattern and evolution of the ictal EEG were analysed and their relationship to STN and EMG activity was studied. Focal clonic seizures were always associated with a polyspike-wave pattern in the EEG of the primary motor area (frequency range 1.6-3.4 Hz), while neighbouring electrodes not overlying the precentral gyrus showed different EEG patterns. At seizure onset, the ictal EEG derived from the precentral gyrus consisted of repetitive spiking for 8-28 s (median 19.5 s), accompanied by a continuous increase in muscle tone. This evolved to a pattern of polyspike-wave complexes which were associated with clinical clonus and lasted for 14-202 s (median 30.5 s). The clonic muscle contractions consisted of bursts of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) which occurred synchronously in agonistic and antagonistic muscles and were separated by periods of complete muscle relaxation. Each series of CMAPs followed the polyspikes in the EEG with a latency of 17-50 ms. The periods of muscle relaxation occurred during the EEG slow waves. Only some of the cortical spikes were followed by ipsilateral STN spikes. CMAPs followed the cortical polyspikes independently of whether or not STN spikes were seen. The study suggests that focal clonic seizures are focal tonic-clonic seizures. The epileptic clonus consisted of simultaneous contractions of agonistic and antagonistic muscles at regular intervals and was generated by localized polyspike-wave activity in cortical primary motor areas. Activation of the STN did not appear to be an essential component of clonic seizures.

Action Potentials↗

Complications of invasive video-EEG monitoring with subdural grid electrodes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk factors, type, and frequency of complications during video-EEG monitoring with subdural grid electrodes. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients who underwent invasive monitoring with subdural grid electrodes (n = 198 monitoring sessions on 187 patients; median age: 24 years; range: 1 to 50 years) at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1980 to 1997. RESULTS: From 1980 to 1997, the complication rate decreased (p = 0.003). In the last 5 years, 19/99 patients (19%) had complications, including two patients (2%) with permanent sequelae. In the last 3 years, the complication rate was 13.5% (n = 5/37) without permanent deficits. Overall, complications occurred during 52 monitoring sessions (26.3%): infection (n = 24; 12.1%), transient neurologic deficit (n = 22; 11.1%), epidural hematoma (n = 5; 2.5%), increased intracranial pressure (n = 5; 2.5%), and infarction (n = 3; 1.5%). One patient (0.5%) died during grid insertion. Complication occurrence was associated with greater number of grids/electrodes (p = 0.021/p = 0.052; especially >60 electrodes), longer duration of monitoring (p = 0.004; especially >10 days), older age of the patient (p = 0.005), left-sided grid insertion (p = 0.01), and burr holes in addition to the craniotomy (p = 0.022). No association with complications was found for number of seizures, IQ, anticonvulsants, or grid localization. CONCLUSIONS: Invasive monitoring with grid electrodes was associated with significant complications. Most of them were transient. Increased complication rates were related to left-sided grid insertion and longer monitoring with a greater number of electrodes (especially more than 60 electrodes). Improvements in grid technology, surgical technique, and postoperative care resulted in significant reductions in the complication rate.

Adolescent↗

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery: correlations of hippocampal cell densities with signal abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is characterized by hippocampal atrophy and increased signal on T2-weighted images and on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. OBJECTIVE: To quantitate cell loss and compare it with signal abnormalities on FLAIR images. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with temporal lobe resection, pathologically proven HS, and Engel class I and II outcome were included: 20 with HS only and 11 with HS associated with pathologically proven cortical dysplasia (dual pathology). The signal intensity on FLAIR was rated as present or absent in the hippocampus and correlated with the neuronal losses in the hippocampus. RESULTS: FLAIR signal increases were present in 77% (24/31) of all patients studied. In patients with isolated HS, 90% (18/20) had ipsilateral signal increases, but in patients with dual pathology, only 55% (6/11; p < 0.02) showed FLAIR signal increase. Hippocampal cell losses were significantly higher in the isolated HS group. The average cell loss in patients with FLAIR signal abnormalities was 64.8 +/- 8.0% as compared with only 32.7 +/- 5.1% in patients with no FLAIR signal abnormalities. There was a significant positive correlation between the presence of signal abnormality and average hippocampal cell loss in both pathologic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ipsilateral FLAIR signal abnormalities occur in the majority of patients with isolated HS but are less frequent in those with dual pathology. The presence of increased FLAIR signal is correlated with higher hippocampal cell loss.

Adult↗

[Lateralizing and localizing signs and symptoms of epileptic seizures: significance and application in clinical practice].

This report reviews the lateralising and localising signs of epileptic seizures in respect to the differential diagnosis of epilepsy. The lateralising value of epileptic signs and symptoms can frequently be derived from the neuroanatomy. Focal clonic, focal tonic, and versive seizures as well as ictal unilateral dystonia are associated with a seizure onset zone in the contralateral hemisphere. Postictal nose wiping is performed with the hand ipsilateral to the epileptogenic zone. Similarly, unilateral blinking points to an ipsilateral seizure onset. Automatisms with preserved consciousness, ictal speech, and vomiting correlate to an epileptogenic zone in the non-dominant hemisphere, while postictal dysphasia is produced by seizures arising from the dominant hemisphere. Lateralising and localising signs and symptoms of epileptic seizures are of great help in the differential diagnosis of epilepsy from the first diagnosis of epileptic events to presurgical video-EEG monitoring.

Brain↗