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Biomedical subjects

Joseph E Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to Joseph E Sullivan.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Functional magnetic resonance imaging in the treatment of epilepsy.

Although structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now in routine use in the evaluation and management of epilepsy, functional MRI (fMRI) has recently begun to provide a noninvasive and widely available modality for assessing regional brain function. fMRI studies of language and memory are able to show discrete areas of activation in cerebral cortex, are useful in lateralizing language and memory during presurgical evaluation, and are providing further insight into the processes underlying cerebral plasticity in the brains of epilepsy patients. The use of fMRI for localization of ictal phenomena may also contribute to the localization of seizure foci and to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of electrographic spikes. The combination of fMRI with electroencephalogram and other advanced structural imaging techniques may not only improve seizure localization, but may also contribute valuable information towards a better understanding of the pathophysiology of epilepsy and its consequences on brain development.

Cerebral Cortex↗
PubMed2005

Antiepileptic drug monotherapy: pediatric concerns.

Selecting the optimal antiepileptic drug (AED) begins with accurate epilepsy classification, including seizure type and epilepsy syndrome if possible. Based on the available data, children with focal epilepsy, with or without secondary generalization, can be treated with a traditional or newer narrow-spectrum or broad-spectrum AED. Children with generalized convulsive epilepsy, mixed epilepsy, or seizures of an unknown type are best treated with a broad-spectrum AED. Children with childhood absence epilepsy can be treated with ethosuximide, valproate, or lamotrigine. In all cases, the best choice among the various AED options requires consideration of factors such as seizure frequency, seizure severity, AED adverse event profile, AED titration schedule, patient comorbidities, prescription plan coverage, and cost. Most children with epilepsy achieve the goal of "no seizures and no side effects" and most children eventually become seizure free without AEDs. If accurate epilepsy classification is made, clear differences in efficacy are not evident among the multiple available AEDs. Better comparative data emphasizing adverse event profiles, comorbidities and longer-term outcome are needed between the traditional and newer AEDs.

Adolescent↗