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Biomedical subjects

R Di Perri

Publications and source records attributed to R Di Perri.

162 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Epilepsy and pregnancy (review of the literature)].

The relationship between pregnancy and epilepsy has often been object of particular attention and care by many epileptologists. The aim of this survey of the literature is to give an up-to-date and comprehensive review of this relation and to focalize the many related problems which still are unsolved. The following principal chapters are discussed: 1) the influence of pregnancy on epilepsy; 2) the influence of epilepsy on pregnancy and delivery; 3) the influence of epilepsy on newborns; 4) the teratogenic effects of antiepileptic medication. Many conflicting data make it very difficult to summarize the results, however it is clear that the effect of pregnancy on seizure frequency may be quite variable. Seizures, in fact, during pregnancy may be increased, decreased or remain unchanged. The most conflicting data are those related to the effects of epilepsy on pregnancy and delivery, while concordant opinions indicate an increased perinatal mortality and morbidity in offsprings of epileptic women. Special attention has to be payed to the offsprings of epileptic mothers. The presence of congenital abnormalities in fact, is about 2 times higher for newborns of mothers with epilepsy than for offsprings of mothers without the disease. Another important problem is related to the presumed teratogenicity of antiepileptic drugs. It has not yet been demonstrated that antiepileptic compounds have a teratogenic effect on offsprings. However it has been shown that this assumption is often associated to a higher presence of congenital malformations. The majority of malformations (facial clefts and heart defects) occur in association with the use of trimethadione, phenobarbital, primidone and acetazolamide, whereas they are much less frequent in association with phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serotoninergic agents in the treatment of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome.

A preliminary trial with fluoxetine, a 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, was carried out on two young male patients (21 and 32 years old) affected by Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. They both underwent a complete neurological evaluation also including neuroradiological, neurophysiological and neuropsychological assessment. Both patients had already been treated with benzodiazepines and amitriptyline; the older one was also given haloperidol and chlorimipramine with definite, but short-lasting improvement. During hospitalization a therapeutic trial with fluoxetine (20 mg/day in the younger patient and 40 mg/day in the older) in association with chlorimipramine (75 mg/day) was initiated, leading to a significant reduction (at least 50%) of abnormal movements and obsessive-compulsive behaviour. The older patient had no side effects while the 21 year old subject complained of insomnia, urinary retention and anorexia; despite the objective improvement, these side effects led us to modify the therapy after the first month. The favourable action of serotoninergic agents on TS symptoms supports the hypothesis that the multiple tics of the syndrome are motor compulsions.

Adult↗