即刻和延迟治疗对新诊断癫痫患者复发的影响

目的 探讨不同治疗时机(即刻和延迟治疗)对新诊断癫痫患者复发的影响.方法 前瞻性收集新诊断癫痫患者的临床资料,根据治疗前发作次数将患者分为即刻治疗组(≤2次)及延迟治疗组(＞2次),给予合理抗癫痫药物治疗,至少观察2年.采用Kaplan-Meier统计分析比较2组患者治疗后至第1、2次复发的时间,同时比较治疗后不同随访时间点(3、6、12、24个月)的累计复发率.结果 共收集162例癫痫患者,其中即刻治疗组65例,延迟治疗组97例,随访2～14年(中位数3年).即刻治疗组治疗后至第1、2次复发时间均明显长于延迟治疗组,差异均有统计学意义(x2=5.94,P=0.020;x2=7.210,P=0.007).至随访终点,即刻治疗组有58.5%患者复发,低于延迟治疗组的72.2%,但差异没有统计学意义(x2=3.289,P=0.070).即刻治疗组和延迟治疗组治疗后3、6、12、24个月累计癫痫复发率分别为16.9%vs 35.1%、26.2%vs 48.5%、41.5%vs 56.7%、50.8%vs64.9%,仅在3、6月时差异均有统计学意义(x2=6.376,P=0.012;x2=8.098,P=0.004).结论 ≤2次癫痫发作后即刻给予合理抗癫痫药治疗可降低癫痫患者早期的复发风险.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the influences of immediate and deferred treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on relapse of epilepsy in newly diagnosed patients. Methods The clinical data of newly diagnosed epileptic patients were collected prospectively and the patients were divided into immediate (seizures≤2) and deferred (seizures＞2) treatment groups according to times of seizures before treatment; these patients were treated with antiepileptic drugs reasonably. The patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Kaplan-Meier statistics was used to analyze the times to the first and second seizures after treatment. We also observed and compared their cumulative recurrence rate during the follow-up.Results One hundred and sixty-two patients were collected, 65 of which were in the immediate treatment group and 97 of which were in the deferred treatment group; The patients were followed up for 2-14 years(median 3 years). Times to the first and second seizures in the immediate treatment group were significantly longer than those in the deferred treatment group (x2=5.394, P=0.020; x2=7.210, P=0.007,respectively). Till the end of follow-up, 58.5% patients relapsed in the immediate treatment group, which was lower than that in the deferred treatment group (72.2%), but no statistical difference was noted (x2=3.289, P=0.07). The cumulative recurrence rates in the immediate and deferred treatment groups were 16.9% vs. 35.1% (x2=6.376, P=0.012), 26.2% vs. 48.5% (x2=8.098, P=0.004), 41.5% vs. 56.7% (x2=3.580,P=0.058) and 50.8% vs. 64.9% (x2=3.241, P=0.072) in the 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th month of follow-up.Conclusion Immediate treatment with AEDs could reduce early recurrence rate of epilepsy in newly diagnosed epileptic patients with a few seizures (seizures ≤2).     

Treatment of epilepsy in China Formal or informal？

Antiepileptic drugs are the preferred treatment approach for epileptic patients. However, informal treatment is important for intractable epilepsy. In this study, 500 epileptic patients were recruited from the General Hospital of Beijing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA during the period of October 2009 to January 2012. These involved patients that had been medically treated for at least 1 year. Information on the initial treatment and changes to treatment regimens for each patient was collected through questionnaires. The survey results showed that 52.3% of the epileptic patients searched for treatment after the first seizure, and the mean numbers of seizures was 12.8; 59.8% of the epileptic patients were diagnosed at the first visit, and the mean onset time was 17 months after the first seizure. After diagnosis, patients were treated for an average of 20 days, and the median time was 1 day. Formal anti-epileptic drugs were selected as the first treatment regimen by 67.8% of patients, and 77.5% of these drugs were monotherapies. The mean and median numbers of seizure were respectively 36.9 and 3.0 times before the first regimen was changed. The regimen was changed within the first 6 months by 46.6% of patients, and after the first and second years of treatment, the proportions increased to 54.0% and 71.8%, respectively. In total, 78.5% of the regi- mens were changed to informal treatments. The informal treatment of epilepsy in China is common, being initiated by either patients or physicians. Enhancing epileptic treatment services in hospital, improving physicians＇ professional quality, and strengthening health propaganda may promote the normalization of drug treatment of epilepsy in China.     

Effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on electroencephalogram and seizure frequency in 15 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy following dipole source localization*★

BACKGROUND： Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation （rTMS） has been shown to significantly reduce epileptiform discharges and control clinical seizures in intractable epilepsy patients. The location of epileptic foci and magnetic stimulation sites remain uncertain. The effects of rTMS on electroencephalogram and seizure remain unclear in epileptic patients following dipole source localization. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of low-frequency rTMS on electroencephalogram and seizure in temporal lobe epilepsy patients after dipole source localization. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The randomized, controlled study was performed at the outpatient clinic Department of Neurology, Hospital Affiliated to North Sichuan Medical College from December 2003 to February 2007. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 30 temporal lobe epilepsy patients, comprising 19 males and 11 females, aged 1749 years, presented with epileptiform discharges and were enrolled for this study. Disease course ranged between 1-6 years, with 1-5 seizures per month. Imaging examinations revealed 11 patients with structural changes in the brain. The patients were randomly and equally assigned into drug treatment and transcranial magnetic stimulation （TMS） groups. METHODS： Patients in the drug treatment group were orally treated with carbamazepine. Patients in the TMS group received oral carbamazepine treatment of and TMS. A Maglite-r25 magnetic stimulator （Dantec Dynamics, Denmark） was used to stimulate epileptic foci in the temporal lobe following electroencephalogram dipole localization （1 Hz, 90% threshold intensity, at a stimulation frequency of 500 times, once a day, for 7 days）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At 30 days after TMS, seizure frequency and rate of epileptiform discharges were observed in patients from both groups. Therapeutic safety was investigated during treatment. RESULTS： Within 30 days of treatment, there were no significant differences in seizure frequency between the TMS group （1.5 ± 0.3） seiz     

老年人卒中后痫样发作现象的调查研究

This prospective study sought to investigate the clinical,radiological and electroencephalographic(EEG) characteristics of seizures in elderly stroke patients,and their outcomes.Over a 2-year study period,158 consecutive elderly patients with stroke were examined and followed up.Of these patients,32(20%) developed seizures,primarily related to stroke,within a follow up period between 5 months and 2 years.Of these 32 cases,20 experienced infarctions,and 12 experienced hemorrhages.Involvement of cortical regions was detected in most of the patients exhibiting seizures.In these patients,44% of the lesions involved cortical areas exclusively or in addition to subcortical areas observed on computed tomography(CT) images.Twenty-five patients(78%) developed early seizures(within 2 weeks after stroke),and half exhibited immediate post-stroke seizures.None of the patients exhibiting early onset seizures developed recurrent seizures or epilepsy,while 57% of late onset seizures(four cases) developed epilepsy.No specific EEG patterns were apparent in those who later developed epilepsy.Overall,early onset seizures after stroke were found to be relatively common,and did not affect outcome.Late onset seizures were less common,but were associated with chronic epilepsy.     

我国农村地区607例癫痫患者应用丙戊酸钠治疗效果评价

目的 观察基层医生使用国产丙戊酸钠(VPA)治疗癫痫的可行性、疗效及其不良反应.方法 癫痫患者来自湖北省天门市和广西田东县农村地区.由县、乡级医生按规定的入选标准筛选病例,并使用VPA治疗和随访.疗效评估以发作频率与治疗前的变化为标准,其中无发作、显效和有效三者之和为总有效率.结果 入组607例癫痫患者接受治疗随访,男性395例,女性212例,其中579例随访满12个月.患者中全面强直-阵挛性发作517例(85.2%),失神发作20例(3.3%),其余70例(11.5%)为部分性发作、单纯强直、阵挛、肌阵挛或失张力发作.服药满3个月、6个月、12个月时癫痫发作完全控制的患者分别有270例(45.5%)、249例(42.3%)和238例(41.1%),总有效率三个时段分别为65.2%、75.4%和85.5%.治疗随访期间共有58例出现困倦、嗜睡、疲乏、头晕等不良反应.治疗随访期间有19例(3.1%)先后脱组.结论 VPA是一种疗效较好、严重不良反应少、基层医生比较容易掌握的广谱抗癫痫药,同苯巴比妥一样适合在我国农村地区推广应用.

Abstract：

Objective To observe the efficacy and the side-effects of sodium valproate (VPA) in patients with epilepsy in rural China. Methods Epilepsy patients were selected from rural areas of Tianmen in Hubei province and Tiandong county in Guangxi province according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Efficacy evaluation standard depending on the change of seizure frequency compared with the situation prior to entering the treatment group. Among the treated patients, no seizures, seizure reduced ＞ 75%, seizure reduced 50%-75% sums for the total effective rate. Results All 607 patients with epilepsy were treated and followed up, the male were 395 (65. 1% ) female 212 (34. 9% ), and 579 patients were treated for 12 months. Patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures were 517 (85.2%), absence seizures 20 (3. 3% )and the other types of seizures 70 (11.5% ) including simple partial seizures, tonic, clonic, myoclonic or atonic seizures etc. The completed control of seizures ( without any seizures) during the period after taking 3 months, 6 months, 12 months were 270 (45.5%), 249 (42. 3% ) and 238 (41.1%) respectively. The total effective rates in the three periods were 65.2% , 75.4% and 85.5% respectively. The 58 patients in the total group showed side-effects during the follow-up period, mainly including drowsiness, lethargy,fatigue, dizziness, headache and tremor. Nineteen patients (3. 1% ) quitted the treatment group.Conclusions The VPA is an effective antiepileptic drug and no more severe side-effects. It is the same as Phenobarbital and suitable to be used in rural areas of China.     

Effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on electroencephalogram and seizure frequency in 15 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy following dipole source localization

BACKGROUND:Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to significantly reduce epileptiform discharges and control clinical seizures in intractable epilepsy patients. The location of epileptic foci and magnetic stimulation sites remain uncertain. The effects of rTMS on electroencephalogram and seizure remain unclear in epileptic patients following dipole source localization. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of low-frequency rTMS on electroencephalogram and seizure i...     

继发性癫痫患者68例临床特征分析

目的 探讨脑卒中继发癫痫患者的临床特征.方法 冀中能源峰峰集团有限公司总医院神经内科自2002年6月至2008年12月共收治经CT证实的脑卒中住院患者1082例,其中继发癫痫患者68例,回顾性分析脑卒中继发癫痫患者的临床资料,总结癫痫发作的主要类型、部位及其与脑卒中的类型和病灶部位的关系.结果 脑卒中继发癫痫患者癫痫发作部位主要位于中颞叶、类型以单纯部分性发作较多,脑出血患者继发癫痫的发病率高于脑梗死和蛛网膜下腔出血患者,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).脑卒中病灶部位在脑叶的患者继发癫痫的发病率高于其他部位,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 脑卒中患者中脑出血、病灶累及脑叶者易继发癫痫,继发性癫痫病灶主要位于中颞叶,发病类型以单纯性部分发作较多.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the clinical features of epilepsy after stroke. Methods One thousand and eighty-two patients with stroke, admitted to our hospital from June 2002 to December 2008,were chosen. The clinical data of 68 of these patients having epilepsy after stroke were collected; the clinical characteristics, seizure types and locations were summarized; the relations between epilepsy and both the stroke types and the locations of stroke lesions were analyzed. Results In patients with secondary epilepsy, the lesion of seizure mainly located in the temporal lobe with simple partial seizure as its main seizure type; patients with epilepsy secondary to cerebral hemorrhage had a higher prevalence as compared with those secondary to cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage (P＜0.05). Patients with secondary epilepsy having their lesions in the lobes had a higher prevalence as compared with those having their lesions in other locations (P＜0.05) Conclusion Stroke patients having cerebral hemorrhage and lesions in the lobes are likely to have secondary epilepsy; the lesion mainly locates in the middle of the temporal lobe; simple partial seizure is common.     

中枢神经系统感染后继发难治性癫痫的病灶切除治疗

Previous studies have focused on medial temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to central nervous system infections. Several large-sample analyses of multi-lobe injuries or complications of medial temporal lobe epilepsy have been reported. The present study selected 29 patients (10 males and 19 females with a mean age of 18 years) with refractory epilepsy secondary to central nervous system infections (meningitis in 8, encephalitis in 21) from Beijing Functional Neurosurgical Institute from May 2006 to August 2008. All patients underwent computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, as well as electroencephalogram examinations; cortical electrodes were embedded in 11 patients. In addition, 13 (45%) patients underwent anterior temporal lobectomy, and 16 (56%) underwent extratemporal corcticectomy. Results showed that 18 (62%) patients obtained favorable outcomes following surgical treatment, including 80% with temporal lobe epilepsy and 50% with extratemporal epilepsy. Central nervous system infection was not a contraindication for epilepsy treatment, and identification of epileptic foci proved to be crucial. In addition, a young age at infection, as well as prolonged latent period from time of infection to initial afebrile seizure, were 2 predictive factors for all patients. Cortical electrodes significantly increased the detection rate of epileptic foci, but did not improve prognosis of foci excision.     

Factors associated with hopelessness in epileptic patients

AIM: To investigate factors related to hopelessness in a sample of epileptic patients, including measures of depression and quality of life(QOL). METHODS: Sixty-nine participants were administered the following psychometric instruments: Beck Depression Inventory-Ⅱ, Beck Hopelessness Scale(BHS), and QOLin Epilepsy(QOLIE)-89. Patients were dichotomized into two categories: those affected by epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures vs those having epilepsy with partial seizures. RESULTS: The groups differed on the QOLIE Role Limitation/Emotional dimension. Patients with generalized seizures reported more limitations in common social/role activities related to emotional problems than patients with other types of epilepsy(89.57 ± 25.49 vs 72.86 ± 36.38; t 63 =-2.16; P 0.05). All of the respondents reported moderate to severe depression, and 21.7% of patients with generalized seizures and 28.6% of patients with other diagnoses had BHS total scores ≥ 9 indicating a higher suicidal risk. The study did not control for years of the illness. CONCLUSION: Patients with generalized seizures reported more limitations in common social/role activities related to emotional problems compared to patients with other types of seizures. Patients at increased suicide risk as evaluated by the BHS were older than those who had a lower suicidal risk. Future studies are required to further investigate the impact of hopelessness on the outcome of epileptic patients.     

癫痫患者治疗依从性与疗效的关系及影响因素分析

目的 调查癫痫患者的治疗依从性与疗效的关系及影响因素,探讨提高治疗依从性的对策.方法 利用自行设计的问卷对2006年～2008年间在我院门诊就诊的已确诊的癫痫患者102例进行回顾性问卷调查.根据癫痫患者发作频率的变化分成恶化、无效、有效、显效、控制组.对各组治疗依从性进行判定.并分析比较其影响因素.结果 癫痫患者的治疗依从性与疗效直接相关,治疗依从性良好的患者疗效好(P<0.05),反之依从性差疗效也差.文化程度高,经济条件好,有医疗保险保障的癫痫患者,尤其城市居民和儿童治疗依从性较好,结论癫痫疾病的转归受多种因素影响,其中依从性起关键作用.应采取综合措施提高患者治疗依从性,从而改善患者的疗效和预后.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the compliance and pertaining factors of patients with epilepsy, and to improve the treatment of compliance. Methods The patients with epilepsy ( 102 cases) were retrospectively surveyed by self-designed questionnaire during 2006 ～2008. According to the frequency changing of seizures, the patients were divided into aggravate group 、ineffective group、and effective group、excellent group、the control group. We determined the compliance of the groups, and analyzed the pertaining factors. Results The treatment compliance and effect is directly related in people with epilepsy, good treatment compliance in people with epilepsy has good effect(P <0. 05) ,On the contrary,the bad compliance also has bad effect. Patients with epilepsy in the high level of education, economic condition, medical insurance protection , especially for urban residents and children got better treatment compliance. Conclusions The prognosis of the epilepsy was affected by a number of factors, in which compliance play a critical role. Comprehensive measures should be taken to improve the treatment compliance of patients with epilepsy, to improve their efficacy and prognosis.     

Effect of antiepileptic drugs on spontaneous seizures in epileptic rats

The present study investigated whether spontaneously seizing animals are a valid model for evaluating antiepileptic compounds in the treatment of human epilepsy. We examined whether clinically effective antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including carbamazepine (CBZ), valproic acid (VPA), ethosuximide (ESM), lamotrigine (LTG), or vigabatrin (VGB) suppress spontaneous seizures in a rat model of human temporal lobe epilepsy, in which epilepsy is triggered by status epilepticus induced by electrical stimulation of the amygdala. Eight adult male rats with newly diagnosed epilepsy and focal onset seizures were included in the study. Baseline seizure frequency was determined by continuous video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring during a 7 days baseline period. This was followed by a 2-3 days titration period, a 5-7 days treatment period, and a 2-3 days wash-out period. During the 5-7 days treatment period, animals were treated successively with CBZ (120 mg/kg/day), VPA (600 mg/kg/day), ESM (400 mg/kg/day), LTG (20 mg/kg/day), and VGB (250 mg/kg/day). VPA, LTG, and VGB were the most efficient of the compounds investigated, decreasing the mean seizure frequency by 83, 84, and 60%, respectively. In the VPA group, the percentage of rats with a greater than 50% decrease in seizure frequency was 100%, in the LTG group 88%, in the VGB group 83%, in the CBZ group 29%, and in the ESM group 38%. During the 7 day treatment period, 20% of the VPA-treated animals and 14% of the CBZ-treated animals became seizure-free. These findings indicate that rats with focal onset spontaneous seizures respond to the same AEDs as patients with focal onset seizures. Like in humans, the response to AEDs can vary substantially between animals. These observations support the idea that spontaneously seizing animals are a useful tool for testing novel compounds for the treatment of human epilepsy.     

Pharmacological outcomes in newly diagnosed epilepsy

The response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been examined in 780 adult and adolescent patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy presenting with a range of seizure types and epilepsy syndromes over a 20-year period. Carbamazepine (CBZ, n=312), sodium valproate (VPA, n=315), and lamotrigine (LTG, n=249) were the most common AEDs prescribed as monotherapy. More patients with localization-related epilepsies became seizure free with LTG (63%) than with CBZ (45%, P=0.006) or VPA (42%, P=0.006). For idiopathic generalized epilepsies a greater proportion of patients achieved control with VPA (68%) than with CBZ (31%) or LTG (45%). In particular, more patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy responded to VPA (75%) compared with LTG (39%, P=0.014). Seizure freedom was achieved with modest or moderate daily doses (median CBZ 400mg, VPA 1000 mg, (LTG) 150 mg) of all three AEDs in the majority of patients achieving remission. Time to first seizure did not differ among these three drugs when given as first treatment. Adverse effects leading to withdrawal were more frequent with CBZ (16%) than with VPA (7%, P=0.03) or LTG (7%, P=0.018). In patients failing initial monotherapy, response to a combination of two AEDs (27%) was not different from that with alternative monotherapy (32%). The majority of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy responding to treatment did so rapidly and completely with moderate doses of AEDs, with no differences in time to first seizure.     

Adjunctive therapy with oxcarbazepine in children with partial seizures. The Oxcarbazepine Pediatric Study Group

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oxcarbazepine (OXC) as adjunctive therapy in children with inadequately controlled partial seizures on one or two concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). BACKGROUND: OXC has shown antiepileptic activity in several comparative monotherapy trials in newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy, and in a placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in hospitalized patients evaluated for epilepsy surgery. DESIGN: A total of 267 patients were evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial consisting of three phases: 1) a 56-day baseline phase (patients maintained on their current AEDs); 2) a 112-day double-blind treatment phase (patients received either OXC 30-46 mg/kg/day orally or placebo); and 3) an open-label extension phase. Data are reported only from the double-blind treatment phase; the open-label extension phase is ongoing. METHODS: Children (3 to 17 years old) with inadequately controlled partial seizures (simple, complex, and partial seizures evolving to secondarily generalized seizures) were enrolled. RESULTS: Patients treated with OXC experienced a significantly greater median percent reduction from baseline in partial seizure frequency than patients treated with placebo (p = 0.0001; 35% versus 9%, respectively). Forty-one percent of patients treated with OXC experienced a > or =50% reduction from baseline in partial seizure frequency per 28 days compared with 22% of patients treated with placebo (p = 0.0005). Ninety-one percent of the group treated with OXC and 82% of the group treated with placebo reported > or =1 adverse event; vomiting, somnolence, dizziness, and nausea occurred more frequently (twofold or greater) in the group treated with OXC. CONCLUSION: OXC adjunctive therapy administered in a dose range of 6 to 51 mg/kg/day (median 31.4 mg/kg/day) is safe, effective, and well tolerated in children with partial seizures.     

Improvement of intractable childhood epilepsy following acute viral infection

In this study, we report 11 patients with intractable childhood epilepsy that improved following acute viral infection. The patients were 8 boys and 3 girls. Six of the 11 children were diagnosed as West syndrome (5 of the symptomatic type and 1 of the cryptogenic type). The remaining 5 children were myoclonic seizures. The patients became seizure free within 6 days following acute viral infections without an exchange or addition of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The types of acute viral infections were Exanthema subitum (Roseola infantum) in 5 patients, Rotavirus gastroenteritis in 2 patients, Measles infection in 2 patients, Herpetic stomatitis in 1 patient and Common cold in the remaining patient. Salaam seizures and/or tonic spasms disappeared within 6 days after the onset of viral infections, and hypsarrhythmia evolved to localized spikes on electroencephalography (EEG) in the patients with West syndrome. Epileptic seizures disappeared rapidly and EEG gradually normalized or improved in patients with myoclonic seizures. Four patients became seizure free for 5 years to 20 years. In 6 patients, seizures relapsed within 14 days to 1 month after the disappearance of seizures. One child remained seizure free for 12 months after viral infection. Common factors in 4 children who were continuously seizure free include (1) normal or almost normal findings of brain CT/MRI, (2) normal development prior to the onset of epileptic seizures, and (3) a short time interval between the onset of seizures and the acute viral infection. We propose several hypotheses including an immunological effect for the improvement of intractable childhood epilepsy following acute viral infection. Further study may provide important information concerning the mechanism of seizure control and the applicable to treatment for intractable childhood epilepsy.     

Comparison of the cognitive effects of tiagabine and carbamazepine as monotherapy in newly diagnosed adult patients with partial epilepsy: pooled analysis of two long-term, randomized, follow-up studies

PURPOSE: Patients with epilepsy are at greater risk for cognitive impairment than are age- and education-matched controls. Cognitive decline is a significant adverse event associated with many first-generation anticonvulsant drugs (AEDs); however, the past decade has seen the introduction of several new AEDs with more-favorable cognitive profiles. Tiagabine (TGB) is indicated as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial seizures. The cognitive effects of TGB and carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy were evaluated in adult epilepsy patients with partial seizures. METHODS: This analysis pooled data from two randomized studies with similar populations, dosing, and cognitive assessments. TGB was titrated to 20-30 mg/day and CBZ to 400-800 mg/day over a 6-week period. A control or no-drug group of untreated patients with a single epileptic seizure was included for comparison. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 52 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 105 epilepsy patients enrolled, 79 completed the 52 weeks of monotherapy (TGB, 74%; CBZ, 77%). Altogether, 19 untreated patients composed the no-drug group. During the 52-week follow-up, only one statistically significant difference was found between the treatment groups and the no-drug group [verbal fluency task: F(2, 92) = 3.16; p = 0.047]. On further analysis, it was determined that this statistical difference was solely based on the patients receiving CBZ performing worse than the control group (p = 0.048). Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found on six (26%) of 23 variables with TGB and CBZ, as well as the no-drug group, although the variables differed between the groups. Significant worsening in the test scores was not seen in any of the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this 52-week, follow-up study show that successful TGB monotherapy with 20-30 mg/day has a cognitive profile similar to that of successful long-term CBZ monotherapy with 400-800 mg/day in newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy and to that of untreated patients with a single seizure. We observed no significant decline in cognitive scores associated with TGB monotherapy.     

Antiepileptic drug withdrawal after successful surgery for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy

PURPOSE: To investigate the prognosis related to antiepileptic drug (AED) discontinuation after successful surgery for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. METHODS: The clinical courses after temporal lobectomies (TLs) were retrospectively analyzed in 88 consecutive patients. All the patients had TLs as the only surgical procedure, and they had been followed up for longer than 3 years. AED discontinuation was attempted if the patient had been seizure free without aura for >or=1 year during the follow-up period. RESULTS: Sixty-six (75%) patients achieved complete seizure freedom for >or=1 year; 28 patients were seizure free immediately after surgery (immediate success); and 38 patients became seizure free after some period of recurrent seizures (delayed success). AED discontinuation was attempted in 60 (91%) of 66 patients with a successful outcome. In 13 (22%) patients, seizure relapse developed during AED reduction (n=60), and in seven (12%) patients after discontinuation of AEDs (n=38). The seizure recurrence rate was not different between the immediate-and delayed-success groups. Among 20 patients with seizure relapse related to AED tapering, nine (45%) of them regained seizure freedom after reinstitution of AED treatment, and AEDs were eventually discontinued in six of them. Seizures that recurred after complete AED discontinuation had a better prognosis than did the seizures that recurred during AED reduction (seizure freedom in 86% vs. 23%). At the final assessment, 54 (61%) patients had been seizure free >or=1 year; 37 without AEDs and 17 with AEDs. The successful discontinuation of AEDs was more frequent for patients with a younger age at the time of surgery and for those patients with shorter disease duration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that seizure freedom without aura at >or=1 year is a reasonable indication for the attempt at AED discontinuation. The subsequent control of recurrent seizures was excellent, especially if seizures relapsed after the complete discontinuation of AEDs. Younger age at the time of surgery and a shorter disease duration seem to affect successful AED discontinuation for a long-term period.     

ILAE treatment guidelines: evidence-based analysis of antiepileptic drug efficacy and effectiveness as initial monotherapy for epileptic seizures and syndromes

PURPOSE: To assess which antiepileptic medications (AEDs) have the best evidence for long-term efficacy or effectiveness as initial monotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed or untreated epilepsy. METHODS: A 10-member subcommission of the Commission on Therapeutic Strategies of The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), including adult and pediatric epileptologists, clinical pharmacologists, clinical trialists, and a statistician evaluated available evidence found through a structured literature review including MEDLINE, Current Contents and the Cochrane Library for all applicable articles from 1940 until July 2005. Articles dealing with different seizure types (for different age groups) and two epilepsy syndromes were assessed for quality of evidence (four classes) based on predefined criteria. Criteria for class I classification were a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, >or=48-week treatment duration without forced exit criteria, information on >or=24-week seizure freedom data (efficacy) or >or=48-week retention data (effectiveness), demonstration of superiority or 80% power to detect a 相似文献   

The specialist nurse role in the treatment of refractory epilepsy.

The main aim of epilepsy treatment is rapid and complete control of seizures without antiepileptic drug (AED) side effects. This outcome is achieved in 60-70% of newly diagnosed patients. In refractory epilepsy, new AEDs render some additional patients seizure free but make treatment more complex. The choice of AEDs, their differing pharmacokinetics, efficacy, tolerability and potential interactions are multiplied. Up to of 75% of patients develop AED side effects, most AEDs can cause paradoxical reactions, and when AED doses are changed seizures may worsen. Despite the increased complexity of epilepsy treatment and the biomedical and psychosocial consequences of uncontrolled seizures, many patients have difficulty accessing specialist services. A service that involves the epilepsy nurse specialist (ENS) giving patients and General Practitioners (GPs) free access to treatment advice has recently been established to improve care. Over a 2-week period 60 treatment-related telephone or outpatient consultations were provided out of a total of 124 contacts. Changes to the AED regimen were implemented in 44/60, and the GP was notified by letter in 31/44. The audit results are presented and epilepsy treatment including AED efficacy, tolerability, interactions and side effects are discussed.