RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Patients with multifocal or generalized epilepsies manifesting with drop attacks have severe refractory seizures and significant cognitive and behavioural abnormalities. It is unclear to what extent these features relate to network abnormalities and how networks in sensorimotor cortex differ from those in patients with refractory focal epilepsies. Thus, in this study we sought to provide preliminary data on connectivity of sensorimotor cortex in patients with epileptic drop attacks, in comparison to patients with focal refractory epilepsies. METHODS: Resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) data was available for 5 patients with epileptic drop attacks and 15 with refractory focal epilepsies undergoing presurgical evaluation. Functional connectivity was analyzed with a seed-based protocol, with primary seeds placed at the precentral gyrus, the postcentral gyrus and the premotor cortex. For each seed, the subjects' timeseries were extracted and transformed to Z scores. Between-group analysis was then performed using the 3dttest+ + AFNI program. RESULTS: Two clusters of reduced connectivity in the group with drop attacks (DA group) in relation to those with focal epilepsies were found in the between-group analysis: the precentral seed showed reduced connectivity in the surrounding motor area, and the postcentral seed, reduced connectivity with the ipsilateral posterior cingulate gyrus. In the intra-group analyses, sensorimotor and premotor networks were abnormal in the DA group, whereas patients with focal epilepsies had the usual connectivity maps with each seed. CONCLUSION: This pilot study shows differences in the cerebral connectivity in the sensorimotor cortex of patients with generalized epilepsies and drop attacks which should be further explored to better understand the biological bases of the seizure generation and cognitive changes in these people.
Assuntos
Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos , Epilepsias Parciais , Epilepsia Generalizada , Córtex Sensório-Motor , Humanos , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/cirurgia , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Projetos Piloto , Mapeamento Encefálico/métodos , Córtex Sensório-Motor/diagnóstico por imagem , Convulsões , Síncope , Epilepsias Parciais/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
Congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZVS) is associated with severe neurological deficits. Clinical characteristics of epilepsy and the electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern in CZVS were documented in infancy. In this study, we aimed to describe the EEG findings observed during the follow-up of children with CZVS. Seventy-six EEGs of 55 children (60% female; mean age = 50 months) with confirmed CZVS were analyzed, considering the background, interictal, and ictal epileptiform discharges. Continuous (or almost continuous) epileptiform discharges during non-rapid eye movement sleep were identified in 22 (40%) patients. In 20 (90.1%) patients, the pattern was symmetrical, with an anterior predominance of the epileptiform activity. All patients with this pattern had epilepsy, which was severe in 15 (68.2%) and demanded polytherapy in 19 (86.4%). Subcortical calcifications (77.3%) and multifocal EEGs (72.8%) in earlier ages occurred more often in patients with this pattern. Other unspecific interictal EEG patterns were focal epileptiform discharges in 23 (41.8%) and multifocal activity in six (10.9%). In CZVS, continuous (or almost continuous) epileptiform discharges during sleep emerge as a pattern after the second year of life. This was associated with severe and drug-resistant epilepsy, but not necessarily with an apparent regression. Subcortical calcifications and multifocal epileptiform discharges in infancy are associated with this pattern.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Epilepsia/fisiopatologia , Malformações do Desenvolvimento Cortical/fisiopatologia , Sono , Infecção por Zika virus/congênito , Infecção por Zika virus/fisiopatologia , Anticonvulsivantes/uso terapêutico , Doenças dos Gânglios da Base/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças dos Gânglios da Base/fisiopatologia , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Tronco Encefálico/diagnóstico por imagem , Tronco Encefálico/patologia , Calcinose/diagnóstico por imagem , Calcinose/fisiopatologia , Cerebelo/diagnóstico por imagem , Cerebelo/patologia , Pré-Escolar , Progressão da Doença , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/tratamento farmacológico , Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/fisiopatologia , Eletroencefalografia , Epilepsias Parciais/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsias Parciais/tratamento farmacológico , Epilepsias Parciais/fisiopatologia , Epilepsia/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsia/tratamento farmacológico , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Malformações do Desenvolvimento Cortical/diagnóstico por imagem , Tamanho do Órgão , Polimicrogiria/diagnóstico por imagem , Polimicrogiria/fisiopatologia , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Síndrome , Doenças Talâmicas/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças Talâmicas/fisiopatologia , Infecção por Zika virus/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
Introducción: Las epilepsias focales idiopáticas constituyen uno de los grupos de epilepsias más frecuentes en la infancia. Excepcionalmente los pacientes con este tipo de epilepsias tienen evoluciones atípicas que constituyen un reto diagnóstico y terapéutico. Objetivo: Ilustrar la evolución atípica de la epilepsia focal idiopática tipo Panayiotopoulos. Presentación del caso: Adolescente de 13 años que presentó su primera crisis epiléptica a los 5 años de edad, de breve duración, mientras dormía tuvo apertura ocular, desviación de los ojos a la izquierda, abundante salivación y presentó un vómito. En tres años tuvo solo tres crisis. No recibió tratamiento con fármacos antiepilépticos hasta después de la tercera crisis, que fue más prolongada. Tras iniciar tratamiento con carbamazepina comenzó a presentar dificultades en el aprendizaje y marcada hiperactividad. Un electroencefalograma interictal de sueño demostró descargas de punta-ondas continuas en el sueño lento. Después de dos años de tratamiento se alcanzó la normalidad en el estudio electroencefalográfico de sueño, con retirada inicial de la carbamazepina, e introducción progresiva de clobazam y valproato de magnesio. Evolutivamente el paciente mantuvo las dificultades en el aprendizaje, con mejoría notable de su hiperactividad, sin recurrencia de crisis epilépticas. Conclusiones: El caso presentado constituye un ejemplo infrecuente de un paciente con una epilepsia focal idiopática con evolución atípica, probablemente inducida por la carbamazepina, con cuadro clínico-electroencefalográfico de más de dos años de duración, con mejoría favorecida por el tratamiento finalmente empleado, la evolución natural del síndrome o el efecto de ambos (AU)
Introduction: Idiopathic focal epilepsies are one of the most frequent epilepsy groups in childhood. Exceptionally, patients with this type of epilepsy have atypical evolutions that constitute a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Objective: To illustrate the atypical evolution of idiopathic focal epilepsy, type Panayiotopoulos. Case presentation: A 13-year-old adolescent who presented his first epileptic seizure at 5 years old, of short duration, while he slept had an eye opening, deviation of the eyes to the left, abundant salivation and vomiting. In three years he had only three seizures. He did not receive treatment with antiepileptic drugs until after the third seizure, which was longer. After starting treatment with carbamazepine, he began to have learning difficulties and marked hyperactivity. A sleep's interictal electroencephalogram showed continuous spikes and wave's discharges during the slow sleep. After two years of treatment, the normalization of the sleep electroencephalogram was achieved, with withdrawal of carbamazepine, and progressive introduction of clobazam and magnesium valproate. The patient remained evolutionarily with learning difficulties, with significant improvement in hyperactivity, without recurrence of seizures. Conclusions: The case presented is an infrequent example of a patient with idiopathic focal epilepsy with atypical evolution, probably induced by carbamazepine, with clinical-electroencephalographic symptoms during more than two years, with improvement favored by the final treatment used, the natural evolution of the syndrome or the effect of both(AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Adolescente , Epilepsias Parciais/complicações , Epilepsias Parciais/tratamento farmacológico , Epilepsias Parciais/diagnóstico por imagem , Sono de Ondas Lentas/fisiologia , Recidiva , Testes Neuropsicológicos/normasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging is an essential tool in the pre-surgical evaluation of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the value of re-imaging patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: Thirty patients with negative or non-conclusive 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging were rescanned with 1.5T and 3T. All of them had previous 1.5 scans with no seizure protocol in a non-specialized center. Two neuroradiologists who were blinded to prior imaging results randomly reviewed the magnetic resonance images. Kappa score was used to assess the reliability. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 30 (SD ± 11) years. The intra-observer agreement for the first radiologist was 0.74 for 1.5T and 0.71 for 3T. In the second radiologist it was 0.82 and 0.66, respectively. Three lesions (10%) were identified by general radiologists in non-specialized centers using a 1.5T standard protocol. In our center a consensus between two neuroradiologists using epilepsy protocol identified seven lesions (23%) using 1.5T and 10 (33%) using 3T (p < 0.01). In 28% of patients this additional information resulted in a change in clinical management. CONCLUSIONS: 3T magnetic resonance imaging rescanning improves the diagnostic yield in patients with focal epilepsy and previous negative 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging. Use of 3T magnetic resonance imaging, epilepsy protocols, and interpretation by experienced neuroradiologists is highly recommended.
Assuntos
Epilepsia Resistente a Medicamentos/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsias Parciais/diagnóstico por imagem , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Adolescente , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Variações Dependentes do Observador , Cuidados Pré-Operatórios/métodos , Estudos Prospectivos , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Adulto JovemRESUMO
PURPOSE: To present the first ictal fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) evidence of the hypothalamic origin of gelastic seizures in a patient with a hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) and to raise the issue of true dual pathology related to this entity. METHODS: Ictal FDG-PET was acquired during an episode of status gelasticus with preserved consciousness, in a patient previously operated on for complex partial seizures (CPSs) due to a temporal lobe epileptogenic cyst. RESULTS: Ictal hypermetabolism was localized to the region of the HH during the status gelasticus. CPSs had been completely eliminated after temporal lobe surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Ictal FDG-PET independently confirmed that gelastic seizures in patients with HH do originate in the diencephalic lesion. An HH may coexist with another epileptogenic lesion, in a context of dual pathology.
Assuntos
Epilepsias Parciais/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/cirurgia , Hamartoma/cirurgia , Doenças Hipotalâmicas/cirurgia , Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/diagnóstico por imagem , Adulto , Lobectomia Temporal Anterior , Cistos Aracnóideos/epidemiologia , Cistos Aracnóideos/cirurgia , Comorbidade , Epilepsias Parciais/etiologia , Epilepsia Parcial Complexa/cirurgia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/epidemiologia , Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal/patologia , Fluordesoxiglucose F18 , Hamartoma/diagnóstico por imagem , Hamartoma/epidemiologia , Hamartoma/patologia , Humanos , Doenças Hipotalâmicas/epidemiologia , Doenças Hipotalâmicas/patologia , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/etiologia , Lobo Temporal/diagnóstico por imagem , Lobo Temporal/patologia , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão de Fóton Único , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
We analyzed the cranial computerized tomography scans (CT) of 1000 consecutive patients with the history of seizures. The seizures were classified in generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GS) and partial seizures (PS) on the basis of the clinical semiology, as it was described by the patients and family members. Seizure types were correlated with age group, sex and CT findings. GS were observed in 70.7% of the patients and PS in 29.3 %. An increased incidence of GS was noted among the age groups 0 to 10 yrs (31%) and 11 to 20 yrs (21.8%). For PS the 0 to 10 yrs (24.5 %), 21 to 30 yrs (16.7%) and 31 tp 40 yrs (18.5%) age groups were the most prevalent groups. The CT scan findings for the GS group were the following: normal studies 48.8 % of the patients, calcifications/cysticercosis (14.0%), neurocysticercosis/cysts (9.6 %), hydrocephalus (4.3%), ischemia (4.2 %), non-definite lesions (4.1 %), tumor (2.5%), and others (12.5%). In the PS group we found 37.4% of normal studies, calcifications/cysticercosis (11.2%), neurocysticercosis/cysts (12.2%), tumor (10.5%), ischemia (5.4%), hydrocephalus (3.7%), non-definite lesions (8.1%) and others (11.6%). We emphasize the importance of CT scan imaging in patients presenting with seizures, particularly in the diagnosis of cysticercosis.
Assuntos
Epilepsias Parciais/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsia Tônico-Clônica/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X/métodos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Epilepsias Parciais/etiologia , Epilepsia Tônico-Clônica/etiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neurocisticercose/complicações , Neurocisticercose/diagnóstico por imagem , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
A cross-sectional epidemiological study of two communities in Guatemala, El Jocote and Quesada, was conducted to determine the prevalence of epilepsy and epileptic seizures. An initial screening questionnaire was applied to detect individuals who had possibly suffered seizures in the past. These individuals were then examined more thoroughly by a neurologist, to confirm or reject them as cases of epilepsy. The crude prevalences of epilepsy so revealed were 28 cases/1000 in El Jocote and 29 cases/1000 in Quesada. The prevalence of active epilepsy in each community was approximately 18 cases/thousand. The most common type of seizure suffered was of the generalised tonic--clonic type. Seventy-six of the individuals who had a history of epileptic seizures and 51 individuals from the same communities with no such history were then given brain scans, using computerized axial tomography. These neuro-imaging studies revealed some form of abnormal image in 33% (17) of the subjects with no history of seizures and 70% (53) of those with a history of seizures (chi(2) = 12.2; P < 0.00006). The frequency of detected brain abnormalities in the individuals who had suffered a single episode of seizures was similar to that in those who were classified as epileptic. The most commonly observed type of abnormality was punctate calcification, followed by cerebral oedema and hypodensities. The reasons for the high prevalences of epilepsy, epileptic seizures and abnormal neuro-images observed in the present study merit further investigation. Although neurocysticercosis caused by Taenia solium was thought to be a significant cause of the epilepsy occurring in the study communities, many apparently non-epileptic individuals have brain lesions indicative of this disease.
Assuntos
Epilepsias Parciais/epidemiologia , Epilepsia Tônico-Clônica/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idade de Início , Idoso , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Transversais , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Epilepsias Parciais/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsias Parciais/etiologia , Epilepsia Tônico-Clônica/diagnóstico por imagem , Epilepsia Tônico-Clônica/etiologia , Feminino , Guatemala/epidemiologia , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neurocisticercose/complicações , Neurocisticercose/diagnóstico por imagem , Fatores Sexuais , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios XRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the recently published guidelines on neuroimaging in patients with new-onset seizures are applicable to children. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 107 neurologically normal children (excluding children with simple febrile seizures) who had undergone neuroimaging when they presented to the emergency department with a possible "first seizure." RESULTS: Eight of the 107 children had nonepileptic events (gastroesophageal reflux, syncopal event, rigor). Of the remaining 99 children, 49 had provoked seizures (complicated febrile seizure, meningo-encephalitis, toxic or metabolic abnormalities), and 50 had unprovoked seizures. A total of 19 children had brain abnormalities identified on computed tomography (CT) scan; 7 received further investigation or intervention as a result of CT scan findings (2 with tumors, 3 with vascular anomalies, 1 with cysticercosis, and 1 with obstructive hydrocephalus). CT scan abnormalities requiring treatment or monitoring were more frequently seen in children with their first unprovoked seizure (P < .01) and in those children whose seizure onset had been focal or who had focal abnormalities identified on postictal neurologic examination (P < .04). CONCLUSION: In a child, a seizure in the setting of a fever rarely indicates the presence of an unexpected CT scan lesion requiring intervention.