scholarly journals Characteristics of seizure frequency among Malaysian children diagnosed with structural– metabolic epilepsy

2012 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 244-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhannad RM Salih ◽  
Mohd Baidi Bahari ◽  
Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali ◽  
Asrul Akmal Shafie ◽  
Omer Qutaiba B Al-lela ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: Seizure-free patients or substantial reduction in seizure frequency are the most important outcome measures in the management of epilepsy. The study aimed to evaluate the patterns of seizure frequency and its relationship with demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang. Over a period of 6 months, the required data were extracted from the medical records using a pre-designed data collection form. Results: Seizure frequency showed no significant association with patient’s demographics and clinical characteristic. However, significant reduction in seizure frequency from the baseline to the last follow-up visit was only seen in certain subgroups of patients including Malays, females, patients <4 years of age, patients with global developmental delay/intellectual disability, and patients with focal seizure. There was no significant association between seizure frequency and rate of adverse events. Polytherapy visits were associated with higher seizure frequency than monotherapy visits (27.97 ± 56.66, 10.94 ± 30.96 attack per month, respectively) (P < 0.001). There was a clear tendency to get antiepileptic drugs used at doses above the recommended range in polytherapy (8.4%) rather than in monotherapy (1.4%) visits (P < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between seizure frequency and number of visits per patient per year (r = 0.450, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Among children with structural–metabolic epilepsy, Malays, females, patients <4 years of age, patients with global developmental delay/intellectual disability and patients manifested with focal seizure are more responsive antiepileptic drug therapy than the other subgroups of patients.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liling Lin ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Hong Pan ◽  
Jingmin Wang ◽  
Yu Qi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The estimated worldwide prevalence of global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability (ID) is 1-3%. Rare monogenic GDD/ID is poorly characterized because its low prevalence limits research. In this study, we aimed to describe the diagnostic courses and clinical and genetic characteristics of a cohort with rare monogenic GDD/ID.Method:We retrospectively analyzed the diagnostic courses, clinical characteristics, and genetic spectra of rare monogenic GDD/ID patients. We also conducted a follow-up study on prenatal diagnosis in these families. Mutation pathogenicity was interpreted by molecular geneticists and clinicians according to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Results:Among 108 patients with rare monogenic GDD/ID, it often took 0.5-4 years and 3-5 referrals to obtain a genetic diagnosis after disease onset. Onset typically occurred before 6 years of age, and patients usually presented moderate to severe GDD/ID. The most common coexisting conditions were epilepsy (68%), facial dysmorphism (14%) and microcephaly (13%). In total, 149 different pathogenic variants were found in 81 different genes among the 108 pedigrees, and 71 variants were novel. The most common inheritance patterns in this outbred Chinese population were autosomal recessive (AR; 46.3%), autosomal dominant (AD; 37%), and X-linked (XL; 16.7%). GLB1, PLA2G6, SCN2A, SHANK3 and STXBP1 were important causal genes. Hot-spot mutations were rarely found. By the follow-up, 43 families, including 24 ARID, 13 ADID and 6 XLID families, had undergone prenatal diagnosis. The offspring of 6 ARID, 2 ADID and 2 XLID families had the same pathogenic variants as the probands.Conclusion:Rare monogenic GDD/ID is characterized by early onset, relatively severe symptoms, great clinical variability and genetic heterogeneity. Moreover, timely referrals to genetic counseling and prenatal diagnostic laboratories are important for affected families planning to have additional children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088307382098316
Author(s):  
Luane A. Gouvea ◽  
Marlos Martins ◽  
Daniela Vivacqua ◽  
Julia Rosseto ◽  
Giulia Lima ◽  
...  

Background: We aim to describe the long term follow-up of a cohort of children exposed in utero to the Zika virus. Methods: Descriptive study of a cohort of microcephalic children due to Zika virus. Logistic regression was used to evaluate variables associated with worse prognosis epilepsy. Results: We followed 28 children (15 females), with a median follow-up of 24 months (IQR = 12-28). During the follow-up, 1 infant died. The median head circumference at birth was 29 cm (IQR = 27-31). All presented a global developmental delay. The most frequent central nervous system abnormalities were on cortical development in 22 participants; dysgenesis of corpus callosum in 13; ventriculomegaly in 25; and calcifications in 24. A total of 9 presented ocular abnormalities, 4 auditory impairment. During follow-up, 12 presented with sleep disorders, 10 with irritability, and 23 with epilepsy (2 with generalized tonic-clonic, 3 with generalized tonic-clonic and spasms, 12 with spasms, 3 tonic and spasms, and 3 motor focal and spasms). The median age at the begin of the epilepsy was 4 months (IQR = 2-10), the median number of drugs used to control the epilepsy was 2 (IQR = 2-3). Maternal illicit drug use during pregnancy was associated with worse prognosis epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, West syndrome, or status epilepticus). A total of 19 presented with dysphagia, 10 children required gastrostomy. Conclusion: Children with microcephaly due to Zika virus presented with several complications during follow-up, as epilepsy, spastic diplegia, and global developmental delay.


Author(s):  
Uirá Souto Melo ◽  
Devon Bonner ◽  
Kevin C. Kent Lloyd ◽  
Ala Moshiri ◽  
Brandon Willis ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 555-561
Author(s):  
Muhammad Umair ◽  
Mariam Ballow ◽  
Abdulaziz Asiri ◽  
Yusra Alyafee ◽  
Abeer Tuwaijri ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Miclea ◽  
Loredana Peca ◽  
Zina Cuzmici ◽  
Ioan Victor Pop

Genetic factors are responsible for up to 40 % developmental disability cases, such as global developmental delay/ intellectual disability (GDD/DI). The American and more recently, the European guidelines on this group of diseases state that genetic testing is essential and should become a standardized diagnostic practice. The main arguments for the necessity of implementing such a practice are: (1) the high prevalence of developmental disabilities (3% of the population); (2) the high genetic contribution to this type of pathology; (3) insufficient referral for genetic consultation. In an attempt to address these issues, the purpose of this paper is to present the genetic etiology of global developmental delay / intellectual disability with emphasis on the need to implement a genetic testing protocol for the patients with GDD/DI, as indicated by the current guidelines. Chromosomal abnormalities and fragile X syndrome are the most frequent causes of developmental disabilities and the techniques employed to detect such genetic disorders should be used as first line investigations of GDD/DI. 


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