The course of epilepsy during pregnancy: a study of 78 cases

We have compared frequency and severity of epileptic seizures during pregnancy with the 9 months prior to pregnancy in 66 patients with a total of 78 pregnancies. Data on total number of seizures and major seizures are analysed separately. No statistically significant differences between frequency before and during pregnancy were found. Cases with seizures before pregnancy tended to have seizures during pregnancy, but there was no association between occurrence of seizures prior to pregnancy and increased frequency during pregnancy. There was no evidence that seizures became more severe during pregnancy. No relationship was found between type of epilepsy and change in seizure frequency during pregnancy. The data suggest that our therapeutic interventions may have influenced seizure frequency in at most a minority of cases. Serum concentrations of the anti-epileptic drugs were monitored regularly during pregnancy. Only data on patients on constant drug dosages and, therefore, presumedly with the mildest seizure disorders were analysed. In the majority of cases there was a decrease in drug levels during pregnancy. Most cases tolerated this decrease without an increase in seizure frequency. On the other hand, most cases with increased frequency also had decreased drug levels.     

Smoking and stroke: A mendelian randomization study

We used the Mendelian randomization design to explore the potential causal association of smoking with ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage using summary statistics data for 34,217 ischemic stroke cases and 404,630 noncases, and 1,545 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage and 1,481 noncases. Genetic predisposition to smoking initiation (ever smoking regularly), based on up to 372 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, was statistically significantly positively associated with any ischemic stroke, large artery stroke, and small vessel stroke but not cardioembolic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage. This study provides genetic support for a causal association of smoking with ischemic stroke, particularly large artery and small vessel stroke. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:468–471     

Smoking and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A mendelian randomization study

In this study, we examined the potential causal effect of smoking on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using the Project MinE data involving 12,577 patients with ALS and 23,475 controls in a Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. The MR approach has the potential to investigate a causal relationship between a risk factor and a disease, avoiding confounding and information bias that often present in conventional epidemiological studies. We found that smokers had a higher risk of ALS compared to never smokers. Our study thus provides evidence for a causal relationship between smoking and ALS. Ann Neurol 2019;85:482–484     

A study of the relationship between the seizure focus and 1H-MRS in temporal lobe epilepsy and frontal lobe epilepsy

Several studies of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients have investigated the relationship between the seizure focus and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). There have also been a few reports in other types of partial epilepsy. We examined the relationship between the seizure focus and the reduction in N-acetylaspartate: creatine (NAA : Cr) ratio using 1H-MRS in both TLE and frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) patients. We studied 21 patients with unilateral TLE and seven patients with unilateral FLE. We used a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance unit (Signa Horizon; General Electric). Approximately 15 x 15 x 20 mm3 voxel of interest (VOI) was placed over the anterior portion of the bilateral hippocampus in the TLE patients, and the anterodorsal position of bilateral frontal lobe in the FLE patients. The seizure focus was identified by interictal scalp electro-encephalogram (EEG). In the TLE patients the NAA : Cr ratios were reduced in the seizure focus, while in the FLE patients they were not always reduced in the seizure focus. In the TLE patients the coincidence rate between the seizure focus and the reduction in the NAA:Cr ratio was 90% (19 of 21 patients), while in the FLE patients the coincidence rate was only 57% (four of seven patients).     

Clinical and electroencephalographic findings prior to the onset of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: A case series

The purpose of this study was to investigate the timing of generalized electroencephalographic abnormalities in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy who were followed up long term before the onset of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. We enrolled juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients whose course of epilepsy had been observed for >5 years before the onset of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, those who had undergone electroencephalogram recording more than twice before the onset of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and those who had terminated antiseizure medications for at least 2 years before the onset of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Patients who had transitioned from childhood absence epilepsy to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy were excluded. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and neurophysiological data of the patients. Four patients met the inclusion criteria. One patient was diagnosed with febrile seizures during childhood, and the remaining three had transitioned to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy from other epileptic disorders, such as self-limited epilepsy with autonomic seizures, genetic epilepsy with febrile seizure plus, or nonspecific genetic generalized epilepsy. All patients exhibited generalized spike–wave discharges or photoparoxysmal responses for >2 years before the onset of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. The four patients had transitioned to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy from other epileptological preconditions. Patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy may show generalized electroencephalographic abnormality many years prior to the onset of symptoms. Generalized spike–waves on the electroencephalogram during the course of any type of epilepsy or febrile seizure may be a risk factor for developing juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.     

Calcium and magnesium concentrations in affective disorder: difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms

ABSTRACT— Morning (0800) plasma and. serum and mean diurnal (24-h) serum calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations were investigated in 56 depressed patients, 32 with acute major depression, 26 of these restudied in remission, 24 patients with longstanding depression, mainly treated with lithium, and in 27 healthy controls. All subjects were rated with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). Significant differences between the groups were found for 0800 and 24-h serum Ca and Mg, 0800 plasma Mg, but not for 0800 plasma Ca. Elevations of serum Ca and Mg, plasma Mg but not plasma Ca were noted in the lithium-treated patients. Sex differences for plasma but not serum levels were seen in remission and in the controls. Depressive symptoms were negatively correlated to 0800 plasma Ca in the acute state and positively to 0800 and 24-h serum Ca and Mg in remission and longstanding depression. This difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms could reflect a change in a calcium binding factor present in plasma but not in serum, connected with biological factors of affective disease.     

Acute antidepressant effect of lithium is associated with fluctuation of calcium and magnesium in plasma. A double-blind study on the antidepressant effect of lithium and clomipramine

In a double-blind study on 22 patients with major depressive disorder the effects of lithium and clomipramine on signs and symptoms and on calcium and magnesium in plasma were compared. Ratings of antidepressant and side effects were performed by 2 psychiatrists at the end of a placebo period of 5-7 days and after treatment for 2 and 4 weeks. Psychopathology was rated by 15 reported and 4 observed items from the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). Eleven items present in 72-100% of the patients were used to evaluate the effect of the two drugs. After 2 weeks of treatment the rated scores dropped for more than half of the CPRS items. After 4 weeks the scores for all but one item were reduced in both groups. The sums of scores were significantly reduced after 2 weeks in both groups and after 4 weeks global scores were reduced as well. The drugs had notable and similar antidepressant effects. Lithium treatment was associated with fluctuations in calcium and magnesium levels in plasma not seen during clomipramine treatment. Serum prolactin increased during clomipramine treatment but was unaffected by lithium treatment. No correlations were found between the sum of rating scores and blood levels of drugs, prolactin, calcium or magnesium.     

From here to epilepsy: the risk of seizure in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Aim. To describe the association between Alzheimer's disease and seizures by reviewing epidemiological data from available literature and to assess the putative pathophysiological links between neurodegeneration and altered cortical excitability. We also discuss specific antiepileptic treatment strategies in patients with Alzheimer's disease, as well as transient epileptic amnesia as a possible crossroads between degeneration and epilepsy. Methods. Regarding epidemiology, we searched publications in Pubmed, Medline, Scopus and Web of Science (until September 2015) using the keywords “incidence”, “prevalence” and “frequency”, as well as “Alzheimer's disease” and “seizures”. In addition, therapeutic aspects for seizures in Alzheimer's disease were searched using the key words “antiepileptic drugs”, “seizure treatment” and “Alzheimer”. Results. The prevalence and incidence rates of seizures were found to be increased 2 to 6‐fold in patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to age‐adjusted control patients. Treatment strategies have mainly been extrapolated from elderly patients without dementia, except for one single randomised trial, in which levetiracetam, lamotrigine and phenobarbital efficacy and tolerance were investigated in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Mouse models appear to show a major role of amyloid precursor protein and its cleavage products in the generation of cortical hyperexcitability. Conclusion. A link between Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy has long been described and recent cohort studies have more clearly delineated risk factors associated with the genesis of seizures, such as early onset and possibly severity of dementia. As genetic forms of Alzheimer's disease and experimental mouse models suggest, beta‐amyloid may play a prominent role in the propagation of synchronised abnormal discharges, perhaps more via an excitatory mode than a direct neurodegenerative effect.     

生酮饮食疗法对难治性癫痫患者发作频率、血清单胺类神经递质水平的影响

目的探究生酮饮食结合抗癫痫药物对难治性癫痫患者发作频率、血清单胺类神经递质的影响。方法将2016年1月至2018年2月我院神经内科收治的72例难治性癫痫患儿纳入研究,所有患儿均在原有抗癫痫药物基础上进行至少3个月的生酮饮食治疗,于治疗后3、6、12个月时统计癫痫发作频率,复查脑电图评价脑部放电控制情况;于治疗6个月时采用韦氏儿童智力量表对患儿治疗前后的认知功能进行评价,测定事件相关电位P300及血清去甲肾上腺素(NE)、多巴胺(DA)、5-羟色胺(5-HT)水平。结果所有患儿均接受随访,治疗维持3、6、12个月的患者分别为72例、60例、38例。生酮饮食治疗3、6、12个月时临床发作控制有效率分别为40.3%、50%、55.3%,完全控制发作率分别为2.8%、18.3%、21.1%;脑电波减少有效率分别为50%、68.3%、76.3%;与治疗前比较,治疗6个月时患儿言语智商、操作智商、全量表智商得分未见显著性改变(P 0.05);与治疗前比较,治疗6个月时患儿N_2PL显著降低,P3波幅及血清NE、DA、5-HT等神经递质水平显著升高(P 0.05)。结论总体上生酮饮食结合抗癫痫药物治疗难治性癫痫有效,不仅可降低癫痫发作次数,也可一定程度改善患儿认知功能,其机制可能与其对神经递质的调控相关。