Unprovoked Epileptic Seizures Research Articles

Prognosis of adults and children following a first unprovoked seizure

Objectives This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (prognosis). The objectives are as follows: Primary objectives To provide an accurate estimate of the proportion of individuals going on to have further unprovoked seizures and the development of epilepsy at any subsequent time point, following a single unprovoked seizure (or cluster of epileptic seizures within a 24‐hour period, or a first episode of status epilepticus), of any seizure type (overall prognosis). Secondary objectives To evaluate the mortality rate following a first unprovoked epileptic seizure. Investigation of sources of heterogeneity between studies We anticipate that there will be heterogeneity between studies, particularly in studies that have focused on adults compared to the paediatric population, and studies that have a combination of paediatric and adult populations.

Clinical guideline: management of the first unprovoked epileptic seizure in adults and children

Clinical guideline: management of the first unprovoked epileptic seizure in adults and children

Rana dijagnoza neuronske* ceroidne lipofuscinoze tip 2 - mit ili stvarnost?

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) is the most common childhood progressive neurodegenerative disease. The main features of CLN2 disease are language delay that precedes epileptic seizures, motor disorders, progressive deterioration of vision and cognition with death in early adolescence. The average time from the onset of fi rst symptoms to diagnosis is about two years. Delay in diagnosis postpones therapeutic approach involving multidisciplinary health care and effi cacious enzyme replacement therapy with cerliponase alpha (Brineura®). The availability of enzyme replacement therapy classifi es CLN2 disease in the group of treatable neurodegenerative diseases. Recognition of early symptoms is crucial to direct clinicians to appropriate examinations or seek additional expert opinion. Timely diagnosis is imperative because it allows treatment at an early stage of the disease. In all children with the fi rst unprovoked epileptic seizures between the ages of two and four, and particularly in those children with a history of language delay and motor impairment, the fi rst step is to measure the TTP1 enzyme activity by dried blood spot testing, which is available in our setting. Genetic testing and a fi nding of pathogenic mutations in the CLN2 gene confi rm the diagnosis. Raising awareness of CLN2 disease as a treatable and potentially curable disease and following the proposed guidelines will certainly contribute to early diagnosis of CLN2 disease to become our reality rather than a myth. Timely and accurate diagnosis is the fi rst step in improving the overall care of children with CLN2 disease and their parents.

The First Unprovoked Seizure in Typically Developing Children: A Real-Life Setting in Southern Brazil.

To describe the first unprovoked seizure in typically developing children, its clinical characteristics, recurrence rate, and possible risk factors in a real-life setting in Southern Brazil. In this retrospective cohort study, medical records of typically developing children aged 28 days to 14 years who had a first unprovoked seizure in a single tertiary care center were reviewed, in a 10-year period (2006-2016). Seventy-four children were included, 41 males and 33 females. The most frequent age group of the first seizure was 5 to 10 years and seizure main type was focal (50%). Most seizures occurred while children were awake (70%). All patients underwent an electroencephalogram (EEG), which was normal in 44.6%. Neuroimaging was performed in 81%, in 2 cases the etiology was considered structural, the remaining was classified as unknown. Median follow-up period was 32.5 months. Seizure recurrence rate was 56.7% and age younger than 5 years was a possible risk factor. In the subpopulation of Brazilian typically developing children with a first unprovoked epileptic seizure there is a high recurrence rate. An abnormal EEG was a common finding, although it was not associated with a higher risk of seizure recurrence. A possible risk factor was age younger than 5 years, which may suggest a more rigorous follow-up of these patients.

Epilepsy syndromes, etiologies, and the use of next-generation sequencing in epilepsy presenting in the first 2 years of life: A population-based study.

ObjectivePopulation‐based data on epilepsy syndromes and etiologies in early onset epilepsy are scarce. The use of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) has hitherto not been reported in this context. The aim of this study is to describe children with epilepsy onset before 2 years of age, and to explore to what degree whole exome and whole genome sequencing (WES/WGS) can help reveal a molecular genetic diagnosis.MethodsChildren presenting with a first unprovoked epileptic seizure before age 2 years and registered in the Stockholm Incidence Registry of Epilepsy (SIRE) between September 1, 2001 and December 31, 2006, were retrieved and their medical records up to age 7 years reviewed. Children who met the epilepsy criteria were included in the study cohort. WES/WGS was offered in cases of suspected genetic etiology regardless of whether a structural or metabolic diagnosis had been established.ResultsOne hundred sixteen children were included, of which 88 had seizure onset during the first year of life and 28 during the second, corresponding to incidences of 139 and 42/100 000 person‐years, respectively. An epilepsy syndrome could be diagnosed in 54% of cases, corresponding to a birth prevalence of 1/1100. Structural etiology was revealed in 34% of cases, a genetic cause in 20%, and altogether etiology was known in 65% of children. The highest diagnostic yield was seen in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 65% revealing an etiology. WES/WGS was performed in 26/116 cases (22%), with a diagnostic yield of 58%.SignificanceEpilepsy syndromes can be diagnosed and etiologies revealed in a majority of early onset cases. NGS can identify a molecular diagnosis in a substantial number of children, and should be included in the work‐up, especially in cases of epileptic encephalopathy, cerebral malformation, or metabolic disease without molecular diagnosis. A genetic diagnosis is essential to genetic counselling, prenatal diagnostics, and precision therapy.

How soon should urgent EEG be performed following a first epileptic seizure?

PurposePatients with a first unprovoked epileptic seizure are often seen in emergency services. Electroencephalography (EEG) is indicated for diagnosing epilepsy, but the optimal time to perform this test has not been defined. This study aimed to determine the time interval following a seizure within which EEG has the greatest diagnostic yield. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of all adult patients with a first unprovoked seizure who had undergone emergency EEG (July 2014–December 2019). Data collection included demographics, seizure type, time interval to EEG study, EEG pattern identified, and the prescription after emergency assessment. An optimal cut-off point for time to EEG was obtained, and an adjusted regression model was performed to establish associations with the presence of epileptiform abnormalities. ResultsA total of 170 patients were included (mean age: 50.7 years, 40.6% women). Epileptiform discharges were identified in 34.1% of recordings, nonepileptiform abnormalities in 46.5%, and normal findings in 19.4%. A lower latency from seizure to EEG was associated with a higher probability of finding epileptiform discharges (median: 12.7 in the epileptiform EEGs vs. 20 h in the nonepileptiform EEGs, p < 0.001). The time interval associated with the highest probability of detecting an epileptiform EEG pattern was within the first 16 h after seizure onset: 52.1% of recordings performed before the 16-h cut-off showed these abnormal patterns compared with 20.2% performed after (p < 0.001). These findings were not related to the presence of an epileptogenic lesion in neuroimaging or to other clinical variables. The finding of epileptiform abnormalities was followed by a greater prescription of antiseizure drugs (96.4% vs. 66% in nonepileptiform patterns, p < 0.001). ConclusionThe diagnostic yield of EEG following a first unprovoked epileptic seizure is highest when this test is performed within the first 16 h after onset of the event.

Occurrence and risk factors of unprovoked epileptic seizures in ischaemic stroke patients

Occurrence and risk factors of unprovoked epileptic seizures in ischaemic stroke patients

New-onset epilepsy in women with first time seizures during pregnancy

IntroductionIn women with epilepsy, seizure frequency and severity can be affected during pregnancy by factors such as changes in ASD (anti-seizure drug) metabolism, changes in hormone levels, and medication compliance. Some women with epilepsy experience seizure worsening during pregnancy, while others have an improvement. Most epileptic seizures during pregnancy occur in women with pre-existing epilepsy. Rarely, women develop new-onset seizure-like episodes concerning for epileptic seizures during pregnancy, posing a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician. MethodsTo determine the frequency of new-onset seizures during pregnancy and the clinical course of those with new seizures, we performed a retrospective study of all women with concomitant diagnoses of pregnancy and seizures (excluding eclampsia) at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions over a five-year period. We calculated the frequency of events concerning for seizures during pregnancy, including first-lifetime events, and classified these events as epileptic seizures or as seizure mimics. For those with epileptic seizures, we followed up with the patient to determine whether seizures recurred in or after pregnancy, and whether treatment with anti-seizure medication was initiated. ResultsOver a five-year period, 41,869 women received care at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions during pregnancy. 84 women had at least one event concerning for seizure during their pregnancies. Of these, 11 had no prior history of seizures; 5 of these women were found to have first-time unprovoked epileptic seizures supported by epileptiform abnormalities on EEG. All women delivered at term with no major complications. Four of these women continued to have epileptic seizures after delivery. ConclusionsNew onset seizures during pregnancy were rare. Most women with first-time epileptic seizures during pregnancy also had epileptic seizures after pregnancy, indicating a first presentation of epilepsy.

Seizure tracking of epileptic EEGs using a model-driven approach

Objective. As a chronic neurological disorder, epilepsy is characterized by recurrent and unprovoked epileptic seizures that can disrupt the normal neuro-biologic, cognitive, psychological conditions of patients. Therefore, it is worthwhile to give a detailed account of how the epileptic EEG evolves during a period of seizure so that an effective control can be guided for epileptic patients in clinics. Approach. Considering the successful application of the neural mass model (NMM) in exploring the insights into brain activities for epilepsy, in this paper, we aim to construct a model-driven approach to track the development of seizures using epileptic EEGs. We first propose a new time-delay Wendling model with sub-populations (TD-W-SP model) with respect to three aspects of improvements. Then we introduce a model-driven seizure tracking approach, where a model training method is designed based on extracted features from epileptic EEGs and a tracking index is defined as a function of the trained model parameters. Main results. Numerical results on eight patients on CHB-MIT database demonstrate that our proposed method performs well in simulating epileptic-like EEGs as well as tracking the evolution of three stages (that is, from pre-ictal to ictal and from ictal to post-ictal) during a period of epileptic seizure. Significance. A useful attempt to track epileptic seizures by combining the NMM with the data analysis.

Prognosis of benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: clinical utility of objective diagnostic criteria

Studies about childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (CECTS), most of them retrospective, include patients with highly heterogeneous features. To investigate the prognostic value of objective diagnostic criteria for CECTS applied at six month of evolution of epilepsy. All patients with one or more unprovoked epileptic seizures (n = 827) were prospectively included. We investigated prognosis and clinical features of five groups of patients defined in accordance with the presence of centrotemporal spikes (CTS) and the following signs: speech arrest or dysarthria; hemifacial tonic or clonic contractions; and prominent sialorrhea. Group A (two or three signs and CTS), group B (one sign and CTS), group C (no sign and CTS), group D (two or three signs without CTS), group E (tonic-clonic generalized seizures and CTS). 52, 12, 12, 22 and 8 cases were classified respectively into groups A, B, C, D and E. Patients of the five groups presented a similar semiology but differences in the probability of attaining a 3-years remission without antiepileptic treatment were observed: group A (98%), group B (92%), group C (90%), group D (77%), group E (100%). The difference between groups A and D was statistically significant. Cases of group A could be considered as well-defined cases of CECTS; cases of groups B, C and E, as probable cases of CECTS, and cases of group D must be excluded from the diagnosis.

Epileptički napad kao prva manifestacija frontoparijetalne arteriovenske malformacije mozga

Abstract: Introduction: Arteriovenous malformations of the brain include a group of congenital disorders in the early development of arterial-venous blood vessels of the brain. Their clinical presentation is most common in the form of a brain hemorrhage, epileptic seizures, and headaches. Case report: We showed a man who at the age of 28 early in the morning after breakfast had the first generalized tonic-clonic seizure. After the second unprovoked epileptic seizure, antiepileptic therapy was introduced. The brain scanner showed the existence of arteriovenous malformations in the right frontoparietal region. As the size of the malformation was less than 30mm, it was decided that the patient should be treated with Gamma knife radiosurgery. After the successful radiosurgery together with the antiepileptic drugs treatment, the patient is in a stable 1.5 yearlong remission of epileptic seizures without neurological failures. Conclusion: Epileptic seizures can be the initial clinical manifestations of arteriovenous malformations of the brain. With an early diagnosis, adequate antiepileptic drugs therapy and neurosurgery, radiosurgery (Gamma Knife), which is often necessary, many symptomatic epilepsies enter a stable remission of epileptic seizures.

Diagnostic challenges in epilepsy

Epileptic seizures and epilepsy are part of daily clinical practice in neurology. Yet, the number of false positive diagnoses is surprisingly high. Almost one out of every five patients treated for epilepsy does not really have this diagnosis, which is a high percentage bearing in mind the social and medical consequences that being diagnosed with epilepsy entails. To summarise the most important diagnostic challenges in epilepsy, to describe possible sources of diagnostic error and to offer advice on how to avoid them. Epilepsy is characterised by a tendency to suffer unprovoked epileptic seizures. The greatest obstacle when it comes to diagnosing a case of epilepsy is the fact that epileptic seizures are transient phenomena that occur relatively infrequently and the physician who must carry out the diagnosis will rarely see them. Moreover, there are other clinical events, such as syncopes or non-epileptic seizures, that may be similar to epileptic seizures in appearance and, consequently, can be mistaken for them. Finally, when interpreting the two most important complementary diagnostic techniques in epileptology, the electroencephalogram and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, the most common errors must be taken into account in order to prevent mistaken diagnoses. The diagnosis of epilepsy is a challenge and must be based on a detailed and specific medical record. If there are any reasonable doubts, from the outset, about the diagnosis of epilepsy or if the patient does not respond well to the antiepileptic treatment, we recommend referring the patient to a specialised centre to establish a definitive diagnosis.

Exome sequencing reveals a novel PLP1 mutation in a Moroccan family with connatal Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease: a case report

BackgroundEpilepsy regroups a common and diverse set of chronic neurological disorders that are characterized by spontaneous, unprovoked, and recurrent epileptic seizures. Epilepsies have a highly heterogeneous background with a strong genetic contribution and various mode of inheritance. X-linked epilepsy usually manifests as part of a syndrome or epileptic encephalopathy. The variability of clinical manifestations of X-linked epilepsy may be attributed to several factors including the causal genetic mutation, making diagnosis, genetic counseling and treatment decisions difficult. We report the description of a Moroccan family referred to our genetic department with X-linked epileptic seizures as the only initial diagnosis.Case presentationKnowing the new contribution of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for clinical investigation, and given the heterogeneity of this group of disorders we performed a Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) analysis and co-segregation study in several members of this large family. We detected a novel pathogenic PLP1 missense mutation c.251C > A (p.Ala84Asp) allowing us to make a diagnosis of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease for this family.ConclusionThis report extends the spectrum of PLP1 mutations and highlights the diagnostic utility of NGS to investigate this group of heterogeneous disorders.

Differentiating structural from idiopathic epilepsy in cats

IN 2015, the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF) (www.ivetf.org) (Volk 2016) published several consensus reports, including one regarding the definition and classification of canine and feline epilepsy (Berendt and...

Weather as a risk factor for epileptic seizures: A case-crossover study.

Most epileptic seizures occur unexpectedly and independently of known risk factors. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of patients' perception that weather is a risk factor for epileptic seizures. Using a hospital-based, bidirectional case-crossover study, 604 adult patients admitted to a large university hospital in Central Germany for an unprovoked epileptic seizure between 2003 and 2010 were recruited. The effect of atmospheric pressure, relative air humidity, and ambient temperature on the onset of epileptic seizures under temperate climate conditions was estimated. We found a close-to-linear negative correlation between atmospheric pressure and seizure risk. For every 10.7 hPa lower atmospheric pressure, seizure risk increased in the entire study population by 14% (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.28). In patients with less severe epilepsy treated with one antiepileptic medication, seizure risk increased by 36% (1.36, 1.09-1.67). A high relative air humidity of >80% increased seizure risk in the entire study population by up to 48% (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.11-1.96) 3 days after exposure in a J-shaped association. High ambient temperatures of >20°C decreased seizure risk by 46% in the overall study population (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.32-0.90) and in subgroups, with the greatest effects observed in male patients (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.14-0.74). Low atmospheric pressure and high relative air humidity are associated with an increased risk for epileptic seizures, whereas high ambient temperatures seem to decrease seizure risk. Weather-dependent seizure risk may be accentuated in patients with less severe epilepsy. Our results require further replication across different climate regions and cohorts before reliable clinical recommendations can be made.

Risk of recurrence after a first unprovoked seizure in children

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the first episode of unprovoked epileptic seizure in children and assess recurrence risk factors. MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study, based on the analysis of medical records of patients admitted between 2003 and 2014, with first epileptic seizure, at the pediatric service of a secondary hospital. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 program. ResultsOf the 103 patients, 52.4% were boys. The median age at the first seizure was 59 (1‐211) months. About 93% of children were submitted to an electroencephalogram (EEG) at the first episode and 47% underwent neuroimaging assessment. Treatment with an antiepileptic drug was started in 46% of patients. The recurrence rate was 38% and of these, 80% had the second seizure within six months after the first event. Of the assessed risk factors, there was a statistically significant association between seizure during sleep and recurrence (p=0.004), and between remote symptomatic etiology seizure and occurrence of new seizure (p=0.02). The presence of EEG abnormalities was also associated with the occurrence of new seizures (p=0.021). No association was found between age, duration of the seizure, and family history of epilepsy with increased risk of recurrence. ConclusionsMost children with a first unprovoked epileptic seizure had no recurrences. The risk of recurrence was higher in patients with seizure occurring during sleep or remote symptomatic ones and those with abnormal EEG results.

Risk factors for unprovoked epileptic seizures in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The role of different factors in influencing the risk of seizures during multiple sclerosis (MS) is not known. To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for epilepsy during MS. Pubmed, Google scholar, and Scopus databases were searched. Articles published in English (1986-2016) were included. Nine studies were included (3 retrospective cohort and 6 case-control) enrolling 2845 MS patients (217 with epilepsy; 7.6%). MS patients with epilepsy had a younger age at onset compared to MS patients without seizures (difference in means=-5.42years, 95% CI -7.19 to -3.66, p<0.001). Mean EDSS value at inclusion tended to be higher in patients with epilepsy, without reaching statistical significance (difference in means=0.45, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.91, p=0.054). No differences were observed in sex distribution (OR=0.94, 95% CI 0.51-1.72, p=0.83) and clinical form (OR=1.03, 95% CI 0.33-3.21, p=0.96). Two studies evaluated presence and number of cortical lesions as a risk factor for epilepsy in MS using different MRI techniques: in one study, cortical lesions were more frequently observed in patients with epilepsy (OR=7.06, 95% CI 2.39-20.8; p<0.001). In the other, cortico-juxtacortical lesions were more frequently observed in patients with epilepsy (OR=2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.5; p=0.047). Studies about risk factors for epilepsy during MS are heterogeneous. Compared to MS patients without seizures, patients with epilepsy have an earlier MS onset and a higher EDSS score after similar disease duration. Clinical form of MS and sex do not predict the appearance of seizures.

Risk of recurrence after a first unprovoked seizure in children

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the first episode of unprovoked epileptic seizure in children and assess recurrence risk factors. MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study, based on the analysis of medical records of patients admitted between 2003 and 2014, with first epileptic seizure, at the pediatric service of a secondary hospital. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 program. ResultsOf the 103 patients, 52.4% were boys. The median age at the first seizure was 59 (1–211) months. About 93% of children were submitted to an electroencephalogram at the first episode and 47% underwent neuroimaging assessment. Treatment with an antiepileptic drug was started in 46% of patients. The recurrence rate was 38% and of these, 80% had the second seizure within six months after the first event. Of the assessed risk factors, there was a statistically significant association between seizure during sleep and recurrence (p=0.004), and between remote symptomatic etiology seizure and occurrence of new seizure (p=0.02). The presence of electroencephalogram abnormalities was also associated with the occurrence of new seizures (p=0.021). No association was found between age, duration of the seizure, and family history of epilepsy with increased risk of recurrence. ConclusionsMost children with a first unprovoked epileptic seizure had no recurrences. The risk of recurrence was higher in patients with seizure occurring during sleep or remote symptomatic ones and those with abnormal electroencephalogram results.

Early specialized care after a first unprovoked epileptic seizure.

A first seizure is a life-changing event with physical and psychological consequences. We aimed to assess the role of early comprehensive patient care after a first unprovoked seizure to improve diagnostic accuracy and follow-up adherence. From April 2011 to March 2012, patients presenting a first unprovoked epileptic seizure received standard patient care (SPC), i.e., a consultation in the ED, an EEG and a CT scan. The patients were notified of the follow-ups. We compared this protocol to subsequently acquired "early comprehensive patient care" (ECPC), which included a consultation by an epileptologist in the emergency department (ED), a routine or long-term monitoring electroencephalogram (LTM-EEG), magnetic resonance imaging and three follow-up consultations (3weeks, 3months, 12months). 183 patients were included (113 ECPC, 70 SPC). LTM-EEG and MRI were performed in 51 and 85%, respectively, of the patients in the ECPC group vs in 7 and 52% of the patients in the SPC group (p<0.001). A final diagnosis was obtained in 64 vs 43% of the patients in the ECPC vs SPC group (p<0.01). Patient attendance at 3-month was 84% in the ECPC group vs 44% in the SPC group (p<0.001). At 12-month follow-up, the delay until the first recurrence was longer in the ECPC group (p=0.008). An early epileptologist-driven protocol is associated with clinical benefit in terms of diagnostic accuracy, follow-up adherence and recurrence. This study highlights the need for epilepsy experts in the early assessment of a first epileptic seizure, starting already in the ED.

Long-term outcome of patients with disorders of consciousness with and without epileptiform activity and seizures: a prospective single centre cohort study.

Brain-injured patients can experience epileptic seizures beyond 1week from injury (unprovoked remote symptomatic epileptic seizures). In our longitudinal observational study, we analysed occurrence of unprovoked remote epileptic seizures and interictal epileptiform activity in 130 traumatic, vascular or anoxic inpatientswith disorders of consciousness (DOC), with a clinical diagnosis of vegetative state (n=97) or minimally conscious state (n=33). We also investigated impact of epileptic seizures and epileptiform activity on clinical outcome (30months post-onset). Epileptic seizures occurred in 35/130 patients (26.9%), epileptiform activity in 61/130 (46.9%) patients, without significant differences related to clinical diagnosis or aetiology. Among patients with epileptiform activity, only 26/61 (42.6%) developed clinically evident seizures. Mortality at 30months was not significantly influenced by the presence of seizures or epileptiform activity. The proportion of patients who recovered at long-term follow-up was higher in patients without than in patients with epileptic seizures, but was similar in patients with or without epileptiform activity. The presence of epileptic seizures but not of epileptiform activity, significantly affected the level of responsiveness at final outcome. In conclusion, seizures were detected in about one third of the whole sample, and in about a half of patients with epileptiform activity, regardless of clinical diagnosis or aetiology. Although epileptic seizures or epileptiform activity did not significantly affect mortality rate, we demonstrated that epileptic seizures could hamper recovery of consciousness. Epileptic seizures thus qualify as one of the factors largely undetermined at the moment which can influence prognosis in DOC patients.