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Psychopathology in pediatric complex partial and primary generalized epilepsy.

Structured psychiatric interviews were administered to 60 children with complex partial seizure disorder (CPS), 40 children with primary generalized epilepsy with absences (PGE), and 48 control children, aged 5 to 16 years. Significantly more patients with epilepsy had psychiatric diagnoses compared with the control children. There were no statistically significant differences, however, in the number of patients with CPS and PGE with psychiatric diagnoses. Other than a schizophrenia-like psychosis found only in the patients with CPS, the two groups of patients had similar psychiatric diagnoses. The presence of psychopathology was related to significantly lower IQ scores and socioeconomic status, but not to seizure-related factors. These findings suggest that the psychopathology of children with CPS and PGE reflects different subtle neuropsychological deficits.

Adolescent↗

Phenobarbital-induced atypical absence seizure in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.

This report describes atypical absence seizures induced by phenobarbital (PB) in a patient with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes. An 11-year-old girl had nocturnal motor seizures, beginning at the age of 7 years. Interictal EEG displayed centrotemporal sharp waves in the left and right sides alternatively, which increased significantly in frequency during sleep. She was given a diagnosis of benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spike and was treated with valproic acid (VPA), which controlled her seizures for 3 years. She experienced nocturnal Rolandic seizures again, at the age of 10 years 2 months, 10 years 10 months in spite of the regular medication, and PB 60 mg daily was added to the VPA. Her parents noted de novo a few seconds of unresponsive fits 7 days after PB administration. Ictal EEG of the fits revealed diffuse irregular spike and wave bursts (1-4 seconds). VPA and PB in her blood was within the therapeutic ranges. After discontinuing PB, the atypical absence seizures immediately disappeared. Phenobarbital should be added to the list of drugs that potentially provoke de novo seizures.

Anticonvulsants↗

Consciousness and epilepsy: why are patients with absence seizures absent?

Epileptic seizures cause dynamic, reversible changes in brain function and are often associated with loss of consciousness. Of all seizure types, absence seizures lead to the most selective deficits in consciousness, with relatively little motor or other manifestations. Impaired consciousness in absence seizures is not monolithic, but varies in severity between patients and even between episodes in the same patient. In addition, some aspects of consciousness may be more severely involved than other aspects. The mechanisms for this variability are not known. Here we review the literature on human absence seizures and discuss a hypothesis for why effects on consciousness may be variable. Based on behavioral studies, electrophysiology, and recent neuroimaging and molecular investigations, we propose absence seizures impair focal, not generalized brain functions. Impaired consciousness in absence seizures may be caused by focal disruption of information processing in specific corticothalamic networks, while other networks are spared. Deficits in selective and varying cognitive functions may lead to impairment in different aspects of consciousness. Further investigations of the relationship between behavior and altered network function in absence seizures may improve our understanding of both normal and impaired consciousness.

Behavior↗

[Vigabatrin and lamotrigin: experiences with 2 new anticonvulsants in the Swiss epilepsy clinic].

Vigabatrin and lamotrigine are two new antiepileptic drugs which have recently become available. Vigabatrin is a specific and irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme gamma-amino-butyric-acid (GABA) transferase. Its administration leads to a long lasting increase in GABA, the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter. Vigabatrin is effective in both adults and children in the treatment of partial and especially complex-partial seizures. After add-on in vigabatrin to their therapeutic drug regime in 116 of our own patients, 39% of previously therapy resistant patients reported a reduced seizure frequency of at least 50% and 6% of them became seizure free. In secondarily generalized epilepsies the best results were observed in axial (infantile) spasms. In addition there was some improvement in tonic and convulsive seizures. Single patients showed increased myoclonic and clonic seizures. Initial efficacy was not always maintained during follow-up. In the experience of other authors, vigabatrin is also effective in the treatment of infantile spasms. It is not suitable for the treatment of generalized epilepsies with absences and myoclonic seizures. Most patients tolerate vigabatrin very well, although psychotic episodes are sometimes reported. So far there have been no relevant hepatic or hematological side effects. Lamotrigine is also effective in the treatment of partial seizures, for which it is approved. However, uncontrolled studies and our own experience have shown that it is even more effective in generalized seizures. As add-on therapy in absences and tonic or tonic-clonic seizures, a significant reduction in seizure frequency--in individual cases seizure freedom--can be achieved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase↗

Myoclonus and epilepsy in childhood: a review of treatment with valproate, ethosuximide, lamotrigine and zonisamide.

Based on small numbers of patients, it is possible to make the following suggestions rather than categorical statements. For myoclonic seizures and epilepsies which are not otherwise specified, valproate seems of proven efficacy. Ethosuximide may be a useful adjunct. The exact place of lamotrigine, which controls some myoclonia and makes them worse in other patients, requires further study. The findings are clearer when specific syndromes are considered. Valproate is the treatment of first choice for benign myoclonic epilepsy in infants, myoclonic astatic epilepsy, epilepsy with myoclonic absences, eyelid myoclonia with absences, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and progressive myoclonus epilepsy. The addition of ethosuximide to valproate can be helpful to those with myoclonic absences, where this combination appears more beneficial than either valproate or ethosuximide alone and in eyelid myoclonia with absences. Lamotrigine can be effective therapy for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and eyelid myoclonia with absences when used alone and, in conjunction with other antiepileptic drugs (AED) (usually valproate) for early myoclonic encephalopathy, myoclonic-astatic epilepsy and particularly, epilepsy with myoclonic absences. The myoclonia of infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis respond to lamotrigine. Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infants usually worsens with lamotrigine, but occasionally, children improve. Zonisamide added to clonazepam and valproate or a barbiturate, can reduce the cascade of myoclonia in progressive myoclonus epilepsies for at least 2 years, but relapse may occur thereafter.

Anticonvulsants↗

Thought disorder: A developmental disability in pediatric epilepsy.

This study compared thought disorder (i.e., impaired use of language to formulate and organize thoughts) in 93 children with complex partial seizures (CPSs) and 56 children with primary generalized epilepsy with absence (PGE) and its relationship to age, seizure, cognitive, and linguistic variables. By the use of psychopathology, social competence, academic achievement, and school problem measures, the functional implications of thought disorder in these two groups were compared. When demographic variables were controlled for, there were no significant differences in thought disorder scores between the CPS and PGE groups. However, the profile of age, gender, seizure, and cognitive variables related to thought disorder differed in the CPS and PGE groups. Within each group, different aspects of thought disorder were associated with different seizure variables. Thought disorder was related to psychopathology, school problems, decreased academic achievement, and poor peer interaction in the CPS group, but with school problems in the PGE group. These findings suggest that CPS and PGE affect the normal maturation of children's discourse skills, albeit through different mechanisms. The relationship of thought disorder to behavioral, academic, and social problems implies that these discourse deficits are one component of the developmental disabilities or comorbidities associated with pediatric CPS and PGE.

Adolescent↗

[Petit mal].

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Epilepsy↗