scholarly journals Seizure Exacerbation by Antiepileptic Drugs

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 192-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline A. French

Worsening of Seizures by Oxcarbazepine in Juvenile Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies Gelisse P, Genton P, Kuate C, Pesenti A, Baldy-Moulinier M, Crespel A Epilepsia 2004;45:1282–1286 Purpose Several studies have shown that carbamazepine (CBZ) may aggravate idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). Oxcarbazepine (OXC) is a new drug chemically related to CBZ. We report six cases of juvenile IGE with a clear aggravation by OXC. Methods We retrospectively studied all patients with IGE first referred to our epilepsy department between January 2001 and June 2003 and treated with OXC. Results During this period, six patients were identified. All had an aggravation of their epilepsy in both clinical and EEG activities. OXC had been used because of an incorrect diagnosis of focal epilepsy or generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCSs) of undetermined origin (no syndromic classification of the epilepsy). Before OXC, only one patient had experienced a worsening of seizures with an inadequate drug (carbamazepine; CBZ). Four had juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, one had juvenile absence epilepsy, and one had IGE that could not be classified into a precise syndrome. OXC (dosage range, 300–1,200 mg/day) was used in monotherapy in all of them except for one patient. Aggravation consisted of a clear aggravation of myoclonic jerks (five cases) or de novo myoclonic jerks (one case). Three patients had exacerbation of absence seizures. One patient had worsened dramatically and had absence status, and one had de novo absences after OXC treatment. The effects of OXC on GTCSs were less dramatic, with no worsening in frequency in three and a slight increase in three. Conclusions OXC can be added to the list of antiepileptic drugs that can exacerbate myoclonic and absence seizures in IGE.

Author(s):  
Friederike Moeller ◽  
Ronit M. Pressler ◽  
J. Helen Cross

This chapter provides an overview of generalized epilepsies (GGE), which comprises a group of epilepsy syndromes of presumed genetic origin. They are classified into several syndromes according to their age, depending on clinical manifestation and associated electroencephalogram (EEG) features. The chapter introduces the concept of GGE before addressing different GGE syndromes, describing their clinical presentation, EEG features, treatment, prognosis, and underlying genetics. The following GGE syndromes are discussed in order of their age of onset—myoclonic astatic epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, epilepsy with myoclonic absences, eyelid myoclonia with absences, juvenile absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and epilepsy with generalized tonic seizures on awakening. This is followed by an overview on pathophysiological mechanisms underlying GGE.


Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres M. Kanner ◽  
Eric Ashman ◽  
David Gloss ◽  
Cynthia Harden ◽  
Blaise Bourgeois ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo update the 2004 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guideline for treating new-onset focal or generalized epilepsy with second- and third-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).MethodsThe 2004 AAN criteria were used to systematically review literature (January 2003–November 2015), classify pertinent studies according to the therapeutic rating scheme, and link recommendations to evidence strength.ResultsSeveral second-generation AEDs are effective for new-onset focal epilepsy. Data are lacking on efficacy in new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, or juvenile absence epilepsy, and on efficacy of third-generation AEDs in new-onset epilepsy.RecommendationsLamotrigine (LTG) should (Level B) and levetiracetam (LEV) and zonisamide (ZNS) may (Level C) be considered in decreasing seizure frequency in adults with new-onset focal epilepsy. LTG should (Level B) and gabapentin (GBP) may (Level C) be considered in decreasing seizure frequency in patients ≥60 years of age with new-onset focal epilepsy. Unless there are compelling adverse effect–related concerns, ethosuximide or valproic acid should be considered before LTG to decrease seizure frequency in treating absence seizures in childhood absence epilepsy (level B). No high-quality studies suggest clobazam, eslicarbazepine, ezogabine, felbamate, GBP, lacosamide, LEV, LTG, oxcarbazepine, perampanel, pregabalin, rufinamide, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin, or ZNS is effective in treating new-onset epilepsy because no high-quality studies exist in adults of various ages. A recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strategy allows extrapolation of efficacy across populations; therefore, for focal epilepsy, eslicarbazepine and lacosamide (oral only for pediatric use) as add-on or monotherapy in persons ≥4 years old and perampanel as monotherapy received FDA approval.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres M. Kanner ◽  
Eric Ashman ◽  
David Gloss ◽  
Cynthia Harden ◽  
Blaise Bourgeois ◽  
...  

Objective: To update the 2004 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) guideline for treating new-onset focal or generalized epilepsy (GE) with second- and third-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Methods: The 2004 AAN criteria was used to systematically review literature (January 2003 to November 2015), classify pertinent studies according to the therapeutic rating scheme, and link recommendations to evidence strength. Results: Several second-generation AEDs are effective for new-onset focal epilepsy. Data are lacking on efficacy in new-onset generalized tonic–clonic seizures, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, or juvenile absence epilepsy, and on efficacy of third-generation AEDs in new-onset epilepsy. Recommendations: Lamotrigine (LTG) should (Level B) and levetiracetam (LEV) and zonisamide (ZNS) may (Level C) be considered in decreasing seizure frequency in adults with new-onset focal epilepsy. LTG should (Level B) and gabapentin (GBP) may (Level C) be considered in decreasing seizure frequency in patients ≥60 years with new-onset focal epilepsy. Unless there are compelling adverse-effect–related concerns, ethosuximide (ETS) or valproic acid (VPA) should be considered before LTG to decrease seizure frequency in treating absence seizures in childhood absence epilepsy (Level B). No high-quality studies suggest clobazam, eslicarbazepine, ezogabine, felbamate, GBP, lacosamide, LEV, LTG, oxcarbazepine, perampanel, pregabalin, rufinamide, tiagabine, topiramate, vigabatrin, or ZNS is effective in treating new-onset epilepsy because no high-quality studies exist in adults of various ages. A recent FDA strategy allows extrapolation of efficacy across populations; therefore, for focal epilepsy, eslicarbazepine and lacosamide (oral only for pediatric use) as add-on or monotherapy in persons ≥4 years old and perampanel as monotherapy received FDA approval.


2003 ◽  
Vol 61 (3A) ◽  
pp. 580-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura M.F.F. Guilhoto ◽  
Maria Luíza G. Manreza ◽  
Elza M.T. Yacubian

The aim of this study is to compare ILAE classification (1989) and Panayiotopoulos' criteria (1997) for absence epilepsies. We studied 455 typical absences (ILAE, 1981) by video-EEG in 43 patients with normal neurological and neuroradiological examinations and interictal EEG with spike-wave complexes higher than 2.5Hz. Syndromic diagnosis was possible in 60.5% and 67.4% of the patients using ILAE classification and Panayiotopoulos' proposal, respectively. According to ILAE criteria 19 patients had childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), five juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), one juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and one epilepsy with specific modes of seizure precipitation. According to Panayiotopoulos' proposal, 10 had CAE, 14 JAE, one JME, three myoclonic absence epilepsy and one eyelid myoclonia with absences. We conclude that Panayiotopoulos' criteria and ILAE classification for absence epilepsies, which did not allow for the classification of 32.6% and 39.5% of cases, respectively, were still insufficient to classify all patients under specific diagnosis.


Seizure ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 116-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liam Healy ◽  
Maria Moran ◽  
Sumeet Singhal ◽  
Michael F. O’Donoghue ◽  
Rania Alzoubidi ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-20
Author(s):  
O. M. Oleynikova ◽  
A. A. Sarapulova ◽  
G. N. Avakyan

Objective: to study the effect of blue polarizing glasses on photosensitivity in patients with photosensitive epilepsy (PSE). Materials and methods. On the backdrop of red light stimulation, EEG and daytime video EEG recordings were performed in 19 patients with epilepsy (15 women, 4 men) aged from 14 to 41 years. Among those, 8 patients had juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), 2 – eyelid myoclonus with absences, 6 – generalized epilepsy, 1 – juvenile absence epilepsy (JAA), and 2 patients had unspecified (cryptogenic) focal epilepsy. All patients underwent photo-stimulation (PS) with an increasing light frequency from 1 to 31 Hz (in 3 Hz steps). The PS procedure was carried out twice: without and with the use of blue polarizing glasses with a degree of darkness of 50%. Results. In 19 patients with PSE, we observed a photo-paroxysmal response at frequencies of 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, and 21 Hz. In the same individual, this photo-paroxysmal response could have manifested either in a burst of epileptic activity without clinical symptoms or in myoclonus / myoclonia with absences. In 8 (42.1%) patients, there was a decrease in epileptic activity upon photo-stimulation: a decrease in the duration of the acute peak-slow-wave activity or a zero epileptic activity at one frequency on the backdrop of a notable epileptic activity at other frequencies. In 3 (15.8%) patients, who were using the blue glasses, there were neither seizures nor epileptic activity at all. In one case (5.3%), there was no seizure but the PS-induced epileptiform activity did occur. The disappearance of subclinical epileptic activity was noted in 2 (10.5%) cases. Conclusion. Blue polarizing glasses can be used as an additional means of non-pharmacological therapy of PSE. The protective effect may be associated with a decrease in the melatonin content in the daytime.


2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 986-994
Author(s):  
Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon ◽  
Maria Fátima Bento de Souza Cardoso ◽  
Valéria Coelho Santa Rita Pereira ◽  
Isabela D'Andrea Meira

BACKGROUND: Epileptic syndromes with absence seizures (AS) possess unique clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics. In typical or atypical AS, ictal phenomenology may include various characteristics. Vídeo-EEG monitoring enables findings to be correlated with ictal phenomenology. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the different AS in a cohort of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) based on the International League against Epilepsy (ILAE)'s 2006 classification, to correlate with ictal phenomenology recorded and to apply the Panayiotopoulos criteria. METHOD: This study included patients with criteria of AS followed up at the Epilepsy Clinic. A dual, cross-sectional cohort study was carried out between 2005 and 2008. Patients receiving care in the Epilepsy Program of the HUCFF-UFRJ, who had been investigated by video-EEG and who presented clinical and EEG criteria for absence seizures, typical or atypical, according to the criteria defined by the ILAE, were included in the study, independent of age onset, the review of clinical history, age onset, family history, epilepsy onset and evolution, seizures phenomenology, antiepileptic drugs response and neuroimaging studies were used to classify the patients among the different epileptic syndrome associated to absence seizures. RESULTS: Typical absences were more frequent (71.4%) than atypical absences. Cases of juvenile absence epilepsy were the most frequent (19%) in this series, followed by childhood absence epilepsy (14.4%) and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (4.8%). In 14 patients (66.67%), diagnosis was modified from focal epilepsy to primary generalized epilepsy. Clinical and EEG diagnosis of absence epilepsy resulted in a dramatic improvement in the control of seizures following modification of diagnosis and indication of an appropriate antiepileptic drug. CONCLUSION: Our results show that typical AS are more frequent than atypical. AS was successfully defined in 10 patients following application of Panayiotopoulos' criteria. The consequent change in diagnosis and therapy resulted in resolution of refractoriness in 9 patients. We concluded that in DRE, AS associated to unusual ictal phenomenology improve dramatically when diagnosed by video-EEG, permitting seizures to be controlled. Clinical and EEG evaluation confirm that myoclonus, automatisms and autonomic disorders are involved and that the consciousness may be affected to different degrees.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1S) ◽  
pp. 23-40
Author(s):  
V. Yu. Nogovitsyn ◽  
A. A. Sharkov

Genetic, or idiopathic, generalized epilepsies (GGEs or IGEs) includes childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (GTCS-a).Aim. to characterize the capabilities of electroencephalography (EEG) for the diagnosis of various forms of genetic generalized epilepsyMaterials and methods. Literature data in Pubmed, Google Scholar was analyzed. In addition, own observations and clinical cases were systematized.Results. The article presents the data of morphology and topography of spike-wave discharges, as well as other patterns of EEG in the GGE – poly-spike activity, photoparoxysmal response, occipital intermittent rhythmic delta activity (OIRDA), fixation-off sensitivity and generalized paroxysmal fast activity (GPFA), as well as epileptiform K-complexes, the allocation of which in an independent pattern is questioned by a number of neurophysiologists. The differences between interictal and ictal activity in the GGE are discussed in detail; electroencephalogram (EEG) informativity modifiers are considered. The morphology of atypical features in the GGE is considered. The role of EEG in the differential diagnosis of CAE, JAE, JME, GTCS alone with the description of typical, atypical features, study scenarios and diagnostic criteria for each form are considered.Conclusions. Typical EEG features of GGE significantly simplify the differential diagnosis of electroclinical syndromes. There are “non-classical” features of EEG in the GGE, which do not contradict the diagnosis. To reveal the peculiarities of epileptiform discharges distribution, video EEG monitoring with night-time sleep and the use of several modality stimuli is preferable. Incorrect interpretation of EEG is dangerous for the patient. 


Author(s):  
Sudha Kilaru Kessler

The ketogenic diet (KD) is often considered as a treatment option for medication-resistant focal epilepsies and symptomatic generalized epilepsies, but is perhaps less commonly considered for idiopathic generalized epilepsies. The evidence for the use of the KD in two common idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes, childhood absence epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, is presented here.


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