Comparative Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Pakistan and Turkey: Population-Based Studies Using Identical Protocols

Summary: Purpose: To determine comparative prevalence rates, demographics, phenomenology, seizure classification, presumptive etiology, treatment status, and selected socioan-thropological aspects of epilepsy in Pakistan and Turkey. Methods: A population-based, cross-cultural comparative study of epilepsy was designed with identical protocols to be performed simultaneously in Pakistan and Turkey. The essential feature of the design was an unselected population, with reference to their previous medical contact, and use of standardized International Community-Based Epilepsy Research Group (ICBERG) protocols to assess cross-cultural differences. Results: In all, 24,130 persons in Pakistan and 11,497 persons in Turkey (both urban and rural, of all ages and both sexes) were studied. The crude prevalence rate of epilepsy was 9.98 in 1,000 in Pakistan and 7.0 in 1,000 in Turkey (14.8 in 1,000 in rural and 7.4 in 1,000 in urban areas of Pakistan; 8.8 in 1,000 in rural and 4.5 in 1,000 in urban areas of Turkey). In both countries, epilepsy was twice as prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas. Mean age of onset of epilepsy was 13.3 years in Pakistan and 12.9 years in Turkey. Overall frequency of seizure types was similar in both countries, with no urban/rural differences. The frequency distribution in Pakistan and Turkey, respectively, was as follows: generalized tonic-clonic, 80.5 and 65.4%; simple partial, 5 and 7.4%; complex partial, 5 and 12.3%; generalized absence, 0.8 and 4.9%; tonic and atonic, 5.8 and 3.7% each; and myoclonic, 5.8 and 1.2%. A putative cause for the epilepsy could be attributed in 38.4% of cases in Pakistan and 35.7% of cases in Turkey. Only 3% of patients in Pakistan, but 71% of patients in Turkey, believed that their illness was due to supernatural causes. The treatment status was very poor. In Pakistan, 27.5% of people with epilepsy in urban areas and 1.9% of people with epilepsy in rural areas were receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) at the time of the survey. In, Turkey 30% of patients were receiving AEDs (marginally higher in rural areas). Conclusions: The prevalence of epilepsy is slightly higher in Pakistan than in Turkey; some marginal differences in age and sex distribution, are not statistically significant. The results are comparable to those in Ecuador, where the same epidemiologic protocol was used.     

Autism and epilepsy: a retrospective follow-up study

So-called "idiopathic" autism, which exhibited no major complications before diagnosis is well-known as one of the risk factors for epilepsy. This retrospective follow-up study aimed to clarify the characteristics of epilepsy in the autism; onset of seizure, seizure types, EEG findings and epilepsy outcome and the differences as a group between the autism with epilepsy and those without epilepsy. One hundred thirty individuals with autistic disorder or atypical autism diagnosed in childhood were followed up over 10 years and were evaluated almost every year up to 18-35 years of age. Their medical records related to perinatal conditions, IQ, social maturity scores and several factors of epilepsy were reviewed in October 2005. Thirty-three of the follow-up group (25%) exhibited epileptic seizures. The onset of epilepsy was distributed from 8 to 26 years of age. Two types of seizure were observed; partial seizure with secondarily generalized seizure and generalized seizure. Twenty of the epileptics (61%) showed the partial seizure. Although 18% of the non-epileptic group exhibited epileptic discharges on EEG, 68% of the epileptic group revealed epileptiform EEG findings before the onset of epilepsy. No differences were observed concerning the sex ratio, autistic disorder/atypical autism and past history of febrile seizures between the epileptic and non-epileptic groups. Lower IQ, lower social maturity score and higher frequency of prescribed psychotropics were observed in the epileptic group compared to the non-epileptics. Idiopathic autism was confirmed as the high risk factor for epilepsy. Epileptiform EEG findings predict subsequent onset of epileptic seizures in adolescence. Epilepsy is one of negative factors on cognitive, adaptive and behavioral/emotional outcomes for individuals with autism.     

Epilepsies of neonatal onset: seizure type and evolution

Most neonatal seizures are occasional seizures and not true epilepsy. This study investigates seizure types of true neonatal epilepsies and their evolution with development. Seventy-five children with epilepsies of onset within 1 month of life, who were examined between 1970 and 1995, and whose seizure types could be confirmed with ictal EEG recordings, were studied. The patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 years and the evolution of epileptic syndromes was investigated. Sixty-three (84%) of 75 patients had partial seizures, while nine had generalized seizures, and only three had both generalized and partial seizures. Twenty-three of 24 neonates with benign familial or non-familial neonatal convulsions presented with partial seizures; these syndromes should not necessarily be categorized into generalized epilepsy as they are in the present International Classification. Age-dependent changes were a common feature of symptomatic neonatal epilepsies. Eighteen (41%) of 44 patients with symptomatic epilepsies of neonatal onset developed West syndrome in infancy. Fifteen (83%) of these 18 patients presented with symptomatic localization-related epilepsy in the neonatal period. In seven of these 15 patients, West syndrome was followed by localization-related epilepsy. Symptomatic localization-related epilepsy with transient West syndrome in infancy is another type of age-dependent epileptic syndrome.     

Epidemiologic Study of Epilepsy in Young Singaporean Men

PURPOSE: This survey of 20,542 Singaporean men born in 1974 studied the clinical features of young men diagnosed with epilepsy on preenlistment screening. METHODS: All male citizens in Singapore are medically screened at age 18 years before enlistment for compulsory military service. Patients suspected to have epilepsy are then referred to government hospitals for further management. We interviewed the patients and their parents and reviewed their hospital records. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients with epilepsy were identified, indicating a lifetime prevalence of 4.9/1,000 males by age 18 years. The lifetime prevalence of epilepsy among Chinese, Malays, and Indians were 5.2, 2.8, and 6.4/1,000, respectively; these differences were not statistically significant. The mean age of seizure onset was 11.1 years. Generalized seizures (65.2%) were commoner than partial seizures (34.8%); common seizure types included generalized tonic-clonic seizures (52.8%), complex partial seizures with secondary generalization (24.7%), and myoclonic seizures (5.6%). Common epileptic syndromes included temporal lobe epilepsy (16.9%), juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (5.6%), and frontal lobe epilepsy (2.2%). Eighty-four (94.4%) patients sought medical treatment, and seven (7.9%) patients sought additional traditional treatment. Although 70 (78.7%) patients responded to medication, 14 (15.7%) patients remained refractory to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The lifetime prevalence of epilepsy in young Singaporean men was 4.9/1,000. The majority (65.2%) had generalized seizures. Temporal lobe epilepsy was the commonest (16.9%) defined epilepsy syndrome. More patients with epilepsy (94.4%) sought medical treatment, although 15.7% remained refractory to medication.     

Generalized spike-and-wave patterns in children: clinical correlates

All electroencephalograms performed in our institution between 1980 and 1990 were reviewed. The clinical characteristics of children with epilepsy and generalized spike-and-wave (SW) patterns were analyzed. The SW patterns were classified according to their frequency. Electroencephalograms of 154 children with epilepsy revealed SW patterns. Absence seizures were the most common first seizure, but partial seizures were frequent. More than 40% had several types of seizures. Sixty percent of the epileptic syndromes were generalized, but almost 25% were partial. The typical SW pattern was associated with absence seizures, a normal examination and computed tomographic scan, idiopathic generalized epilepsies, monotherapy, freedom from seizures, and lack of recurrence. The slow SW pattern was associated with West syndrome; a younger age at seizure onset; atonic, myoclonic, tonic, and partial simple seizures; an abnormal examination and computed tomographic scan; cryptogenic or symptomatic generalized epilepsy or symptomatic partial epilepsy; polytherapy; and poor seizure control. The fast SW pattern was associated with secondary generalized, partial, tonic-clonic, and complex partial seizures; a normal computed tomographic scan; cryptogenic partial epilepsy; isolated seizures; and seizure recurrence. Epilepsy with a typical SW pattern should be considered benign, epilepsy with a slow SW pattern malignant, and epilepsy with a fast SW pattern treacherous.     

Unilateral motor epileptic seizures

Unilateral motor epileptic seizures occurred in 118 of 1902 persons with seizure disorders referred to a consultant neurological practice over a 30 year period. The unilateral motor seizures were nearly always manifestations of partial (focal, localisation related) epilepsy but, particularly if they occurred on different sides on different occasions, could be due to generalised onset epilepsy (10.2% of cases). The risk of cerebral tumour in those with unilateral motor seizures (10.2%) was greater than that for those with all other forms of seizure disorder (relative risk 3.56 times; 95% C.I. = 1.95 to 6.49 times). Unlike the situation in younger persons, if unilateral motor seizures began after the age of 20 years the chance of an underlying cerebral tumour (23.4%) was significantly higher than in other persons with adult onset partial seizures (relative risk 2.62 times; 95% C.I. = 1.44 to 4.77 times) and was much greater than that in all other seizure sufferers (relative risk 8.35 times; 95% C.I. = 4.66 to 14.9 times).     

Electroclinical features of epilepsy in patients with juvenile type dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy

Purpose: To clarify the electroclinical characteristics of epileptic seizures in patients with juvenile type dentatorubral‐pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). Methods: Seventeen patients with juvenile type DRPLA confirmed by genetic analysis were studied retrospectively. The clinical records of all 17  patients and the ictal video electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 12 of the 17 patients were reviewed. Results: Electroclinical studies in 12 patients identified 11 habitual seizures in 6 patients as partial seizures on ictal video EEG recordings. Clinical manifestations composed mainly of versions of the head and loss of consciousness. These partial seizures were persistently recorded throughout the clinical course. Brief generalized seizures (atypical absence and myoclonic seizure) were observed in 6 of 12 patients at the early stage. In contrast, generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS) were recorded in four advanced stage patients who were almost bedridden. Semiological studies in 17 patients showed that the prevalence of partial seizures was significantly higher in patients with younger epilepsy onset (below 10 years of age; χ² test, p < 0.05) and that the age of epilepsy onset was significantly lower in patients with partial seizures than in those without partial seizures (Mann‐Whitney U test, p = 0.02). However, the number of CAG repeats and age at clinical onset were not significantly different between two groups. Discussion: Partial seizure is one of the common epileptic features in juvenile type DRPLA, especially in patients with younger epilepsy onset. Seizure types may be affected in an age‐dependent manner and change evolutionally during progression of the clinical stage.     

湖南省岳阳市癫痫流行病学调查

目的了解湖南岳阳癫痫患病率及治疗缺口,为开展防治工作提供依据。方法采用多级整群随机抽样方法确定调查人群,运用WHO建议的癫痫流行病学专项调查问卷,采用国际统一的癫痫诊断标准,由经过统一培训的调查员入户调查,调查确诊或可疑为癫痫者均经神经科医师再次访查确诊。结果共调查32059人,确诊癫痫患者143例,癫痫患病率为4.5‰。男性患病率高于女性(P<0.05)。年龄组患病率分布存在20岁年龄组(8.4‰)和60岁年龄组(5.4‰)两个高峰。农村患病率明显高于城市(P<0.05)。继发全面性强直-阵挛发作占大多数(63.4%)。活动性癫痫的治疗缺口93.4%。结论湖南岳阳癫痫患病率农村地区较高、城市较低,患者中约有90%以上没有得到正确的治疗,应尽快制定合理的干预对策。     

癫(癎)患者先兆症状的研究

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者先兆症状的发生比例、临床表现,为正确诊断治疗癫(癎)提供依据.方法 回顾性研究1028例癫(癎)患者的临床资料,分析癫(癎)患者的先兆发生率、临床表现、脑电图和神经影像学结果.比较伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的发病年龄、性别、脑电图、神经影像学的差异以及腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现比例的差异.结果 部分性癫(癎)725例,484例(66.8 % )出现先兆;全面性发作者303例,无一例患者出现先兆.64例患者出现2种或2种以上的先兆表现;14例出现持续性先兆的癫(癎)患者.1028例患者中脑电图异常547例(53.2 % ),影像学异常217例(21.1 % ).484例有先兆症状的患者中286例脑电图异常(59.1 % ),126例(26.0 % )影像学异常.伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的首次发病年龄差异无统计学意义,腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现的比例差异有统计学意义(x2=170.877,P<0.01).结论 癫(癎)患者先兆症状多样,分析先兆症状对于癫(癎)分型、病灶定位以及合理治疗有指导意义.     

Prevalence and Incidence of Epilepsy in Tokyo

All children 3 years of age on January 1, 1975 in the Fuchu area of Tokyo were neurologically examined for 6 years (number examined: 17,044). The cumulative incidence of epilepsy (i.e., recurrent nonfebrile seizures) was 4.3/1,000 and that of occurrence of a single nonfebrile seizure (NS) was 4.7/1,000. Febrile convulsions (FCs) were observed in 82/1,000 in this population. The population was followed for 6-11 years after the first examination. During the follow-up (a) 4 of 80 children who had a single NS before age 3 years developed recurrence after age 3 years; (b) development of epilepsy was found in three of 1,323 randomly (10%) selected healthy children for comparison (2.3/1,000); (c) among 1,406 children with FCs, epilepsy developed in 24 (17/1,000) and a single NS occurred in 28 (20/1,000); and (d) the total cumulative incidence of epilepsy was 8.2/1,000 in the population aged 9-14 years. Age-specific annual incidence of epilepsy was highest in the age range 0-1 year (1.9/1,000), gradually falling with advancing age. The point prevalence for active epilepsy (having had a seizure within the past 5 years) was 2.8/1,000; that for inactive epilepsy was 5.4/1,000 (total 8.2/1,000). Epilepsy developed by age 14 years in (a) one-half of children with NS, (b) approximately 2% children with FCs, (c) 0.2% of healthy children with no seizure before age 3 years, and (d) an estimated 2% of potential epileptic carriers (having spike EEG abnormality by age 3; 15% of the population) who had not had a seizure by age 3 years.