Dreaming experience as a useful diagnostic clue for syncopal episodes

Background: The differential diagnosis between epileptic seizures and syncopes is a common occurrence in clinical practice. The manifestations of seizure and syncope sometimes overlap, and available diagnostic testing often not provides a conclusive answer. Syncope is often preceded by a symptom complex characterized by lightheadedness, generalized muscle weakness, giddiness, visual blurring, tinnitus, and gastrointestinal symptoms. These subjective symptoms are very important in guiding the diagnosis. In our experience, the impression of coming out of a dream after the syncopal episode is a subjective symptom commonly reported by patients, if questioned. Methods: To verify the occurrence of dreaming experience after syncope and after generalized tonic‐clonic seizures (GTCS) and its diagnostic value in differential diagnosis, we asked 100 patients with GTCS and diagnosis of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (Group 1) and 100 patients with a certain diagnosis of syncope (Group 2) whether they have never felt the impression of coming out of a dream after the loss of consciousness (GTCS or syncope, respectively). Results: In Group 1, nobody referred the dreaming experience, whereas in the syncope group, 19% of patients referred this subjective symptom. Conclusions: Dreaming experience seems to be an additional useful diagnostic clue for syncopal episodes, helping the clinician to differentiate them from seizures.     

The electroencephalogram in patients with epilepsy

The EEG is useful in evaluating seizure disorders by establishing or confirming the diagnosis of a seizure disorder, determining the type and focus of origin of the seizure, and helping make the distinction between an epileptic attack and a nonepileptic condition. The EEG also may show other abnormalities, such as focal slowing, that give a clue about the underlying disease process. A negative EEG does not exclude the diagnosis of epilepsy. Activating procedures such as hyperventilation, photic stimulation, and recording during sleep may help bring out epileptiform activity. Occasionally, repeated or more prolonged recordings are necessary to demonstrate the epileptiform abnormalities. On the other hand, epileptiform-like activity may be present in the EEG without being associated with a seizure disorder. As the diagnosis of epilepsy is a clinical one, the EEG, like any test, should not be used independently in making the diagnosis of epilepsy but should be interpreted in the context of the whole clinical setting.     

Seizures and epilepsy in elderly patients of an urban area of Iran: clinical manifestation, differential diagnosis, etiology, and epilepsy subtypes

The incidences of seizures and epilepsy in the population show a peak after 60 years of age. Due to the lack of reported clinical aspects of seizure and epilepsy in the older patients in our region in Iran, this study was conducted to describe the clinical manifestation, etiology, differential diagnosis, and epilepsy subtypes of epilepsy and seizure. A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed on all consecutively elderly seizure and epilepsy patients, referred to the Epilepsy Association in the city of Qom, Iran over a 10-year period. A total of 466 patients aged >60 years were admitted. 31 % of the patients had epilepsy or seizure and 69 % of them had non-epileptic events. The most prevalent differential diagnoses in the beginning were syncope and cardiovascular disorders. The most frequent clinical symptom of epilepsy was generalized tonic–clonic seizures (75 %). The most common cause of seizure was systemic metabolic disorder (27 %). In epileptic elderly patients, no cause was ascertained for 38 % and the most frequently observed pathological factors were cerebrovascular diseases, which accounted for 24 %. The most common type of epileptic seizure was generalized epileptic seizures (75 %). 10 % of elderly epileptic patients suffered from status epilepticus, which was primarily caused by anoxia. Despite the rising rate and potentially profound physical and psychosocial effects of seizures and epilepsy, these disorders have received surprisingly little research focus and attention in Iran. Referring older patients to a specialist or a specialist epilepsy center allows speedy assessment, appropriate investigation and treatment, and less likely to miss the diagnosis.     

Diagnosis of epilepsy

ABSTRACT Essential in the diagnosis of epilepsy are repeated seizures due to discharge of electrical activity in the brain neurons, occurring without massive provocation. It is important to differentiate between epileptic seizures from syncopal reactions, cardiac dysrhythmias, vascular causes, metabolic disturbances, and psychogenic seizures. The type of seizure should always be established. It is of utmost importance to find the primary etiology of the seizure and to clarify the role of predisposing factors and the risk for seizure recurrence.
Numerous important technical advances in the last few years have been of great benefit in the examination of patients with suspected epilepsy. It is worth keeping in mind, however, that the diagnosis of epilepsy is a clinical diagnosis, and it is not proper to speak of epilepsy until the patient has had two or more epileptic seizures within a relatively short interval and without massive provocation.     

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.     

难治性癫痫手术预后因素分析

目的 探讨性别、诱因、发作类型、是否存在先兆、致痫灶部位、致痫灶范围、好发时段、年龄、初次发病年龄、病程、发作持续时间、发作频率、总手术时间、颅内手术时间、术中失血量等15种因素与难治性癫痫患者手术治疗后癫痫发作控制情况的关系。方法 分析359例难治性癫痫患者的临床资料、手术方案和术后随访资料。结果 本组所有病例随访1年以上．术后效果满意率为94．15％。单因素分析提示：诱因、发作类型、是否存在先兆、致痫灶部位、致痫灶范围、好发时段、初次发病年龄、病程、发作频率等因素与术后效果有显著性关系，性另q、年龄、发作持续时间、总手术时间、颅内手术时间、术中失血量等因素与术后效果无显著性关系。Logistic回归分析发现：有诱因、全身性发作、睡眠中好发、初次发病年龄轻、病程长可能为术后癫痫控制效果不满意的独立危险因素。结论 手术治疗难治性癫痫多可获得满意的效果。无发作诱因、部分性发作、无先兆、颞叶癫痫、单脑叶癫痫患者手术效果更好，睡眠中多发作、初次发病年龄轻、病程长、发作频率高者手术效果相对不满意。颞叶癫痫、单脑叶癫痫、儿童癫痫应成为外科治疗的重点。所有难治性癫痫一旦诊断成立、定位明确、可以手术，皆宜及早手术治疗。     

Predictors and underlying causes of medically intractable localization-related epilepsy in childhood

The goal of this study is to clarify the prognostic factors in childhood localization-related epilepsy in a tertiary medical center. Children (n = 113) with symptomatic and cryptogenic localization-related epilepsy were divided into groups of intractable patients (average seizure frequency: one or more per month during the 6 months before the last follow-up; n = 40) and well-controlled patients (no seizures for at least 1 year before the last follow-up; n = 73). Clinical and electroencephalogram (EEG) factors were examined to elucidate prognostic factors. The subtypes of epilepsies and causes were also investigated. Univariate analyses indicated that the following factors were correlated with seizure outcome: (1) seizure type at the first visit; (2) seizure frequency; (3) underlying cause; (4) age at onset of epilepsy; (5) status epilepticus occurring as the first seizure and before the first visit; and (6) diffuse epileptic discharges on first visit interictal EEGs. Multivariate analyses revealed that seizure type at the first visit, seizure frequency, status epilepticus before the first visit, and underlying causes were significant independent predictive factors. The rate of intractable patients was highest in multilobar epilepsy, followed by frontal-lobe epilepsy. Regarding etiologies, the intractable group contained nine patients with encephalitis of unknown origin and three each with localized cortical malformation and mesial temporal sclerosis.     

Spécificités des crises d’épilepsie chez le sujet âgé : proposition d’un score électro-radioclinique d’orientation

Diagnosis of epileptic seizure may be difficult in older patients because seizure manifestations are often unusual: confusion, paresis… and because there are multiple differential diagnoses (syncope, transient ischemic attack, transient global amnesia…). To promote and facilitate the diagnosis of seizures in the elderly, neurologists and gerontologists must work together and focus their strategy on two points: firstly, the knowledge of the specific presentation of seizures in elderly patients, and secondly, the adoption of a reasoning based on seizures and not epileptic syndromes. A multidisciplinary group worked on epilepsy of the elderly to elaborate an electro-clinical score which aims to help establish the diagnosis of epilepsy in elderly patients in different clinical settings. This electro-clinical score is based on a systematic review of scientific literature and the recommendations are explicitly linked to supporting evidence. Further, clinical validation of the electro-clinical score is required.     

Usefulness of the Head-Upright Tilt Test for Distinguishing Syncope and Epilepsy in Children

PURPOSE: Episodic loss of consciousness in children, whether or not associated with hypertonia or short-duration clonic movements, presents a diagnostic challenge to the pediatrician and child neurologist. We provide some evidence of the usefulness of the head-upright tilt test for investigating the causes of transient loss of consciousness in children, and for distinguishing between syncope, convulsive syncope, and epilepsy. METHODS: We studied nine children previously diagnosed as epileptic on the basis of compatible clinical events and epileptiform findings in routine EEGs who were treated over the long term with antiepileptic drugs, but whose clinical records suggested syncope or convulsive syncope rather than epilepsy on reevaluation. All subjects underwent head-upright tilt testing. RESULTS: The tilt-test result was positive in all nine cases, with the patients reporting the same symptoms as in the previously considered epileptic attacks. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate histories and misuse/overinterpretation of EEG results often lead to misdiagnosis of epilepsy in children. The head-upright tilt test is a useful and reliable diagnostic technique, allowing syncopal events to be induced and evaluated under controlled conditions. In a subset of patients, it may help to distinguish epilepsy from simple or convulsive syncope.     

热性惊厥史与青少年癫痫病因关系临床分析

目的 分析有热性惊厥史的青少年癫痫患者临床特点和治疗情况,探讨热性惊厥史与青少年癫痫之间的关系。方法 对发病年龄〈18岁的青少年癫痫患者的病因进行回顾分析,总结单纯性和复杂性热性惊厥患者癫痫发作特点、辅助检查和服药情况。结果 符合癫痫诊断标准的4595例患者中发病年龄〈18岁者2699例占58.74%,其中原发性癫痫1573例占58.28%、继发性癫痫1126例占41.72%。青少年继发性癫痫以热性惊厥（297例占26.38%）为主要病因,其中单纯性热性惊厥200例、复杂性热性惊厥97例,均以部分性发作为主（χ^2=4.933,P=0.026）。有热性惊厥史患者神经影像学（χ^2=38.083,P=0.000）和神经电生理学（χ^2=4.469,P=0.035）异常检出率明显增加;其中服药率约为66.67%（198/297）,服用传统抗癫痫药物者占70.20%（139/198）。结论 青少年继发性癫痫病因较为复杂,以热性惊厥为主要病因。无论单纯性或复杂性热性惊厥均以部分性发作常见,仍以传统抗癫痫药物为主,约1/3患者未服药或未正规服药。     

Etiologic and diagnostic factors of psychogenic pseudo-epileptic seizures

The term psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures (or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures-NES) generally refers to episodes of psychological origin that resemble epilepsy but without underlying epilepsy. The diagnosis of pseudo-epileptic seizures is confirmed in 5-33% of patients that are considered to suffer from refractory epilepsies. Making a correct diagnosis in patients presenting with attack disorders is sometimes very difficult. However, the best way to establish differential diagnosis of epileptic and pseudoepileptic seizures is to apply long-term video EEG monitoring. Triggering a seizure by means of placebo administration or suggestion to start or stop seizure can be also a helpful method in differential diagnosis. Over the last decade epileptologist have been paying increasing attention to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales in describing or distinguishing real epileptic seizures vs. non-epileptic attacks. The results of the study may have practical implications for neurological and epilepsy centres, and for improving clinical knowledge and allow to establish aetiological classification of psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures.     

Over-interpretation of electroclinical and neuroimaging findings in syncopes misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures.

Syncope and epileptic seizures share some common clinical characteristics that may complicate the diagnostic process. In clinical practice, syncope is frequently misdiagnosed as an epileptic seizure and consequently treated with antiepileptic drugs. In this study, we identified 57 patients with syncope (diagnosis based on accepted criteria) who had come to our unit with a previous diagnosis of definite epilepsy in 30 cases (syncope misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures, SMS), or suspected epilepsy in the remaining 27 cases (unrecognized syncope, US). We attempted to identify factors underlying misdiagnosis by reviewing clinical findings, particularly potentially confounding features, and EEG/neuroimaging data. Finally, we compared these two groups of patients to search for crucial elements that had led to misdiagnosis. Although some clinical elements were found to be confounding in both groups, it was the interpretation of the EEG and MRI findings, particularly when combined with the confounding clinical features that constituted the main reasons for misdiagnosis.     

Clinical evolution and epilepsy outcome in three patients with CDKL5‐related developmental encephalopathy

Aims. To further characterise CDKL5‐related disorder, previously classified as an early‐onset seizure variant of Rett syndrome, which is currently considered a specific and independent early‐infantile epileptic encephalopathy. Methods. We describe the epileptic phenotype and neurocognitive development in three girls with CDKL5 mutations showing severe neurodevelopmental impairment, with different epileptic phenotypes and severity. Results. The patients differed regarding age at epilepsy onset, seizure frequency, duration of “honeymoon periods”, as well as EEG features. The “honeymoon period”, defined as a seizure‐free period longer than two months, represented, in our case series, a good indicator of the epilepsy outcome, but not of the severity of developmental impairment. However, even during the “honeymoon period”, the interictal EEG showed epileptiform abnormalities, slowing, or a disappearance of physiological pattern. The natural history of CDKL5 disorder was compared between the three girls, focusing on the relationship between electroclinical features and neurological development. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that CDKL5 mutations likely play a direct role in psychomotor development, whereas epilepsy is one of the clinical features associated with this complex disorder.     

Serum prolactin levels after seizure and syncopal attacks.

Loss of consciousness and falling are the key features of syncope. Common accompaniments include tonic and myoclonic muscle activity, eye deviations, automatisms, vocalizations and hallucinations that may render the distinction from epileptic seizures difficult. The frequently increased levels of serum prolactin (SPRL) were observed immediately after generalized and complex partial seizures. Presumably, the hormone release is caused by the propagation of epileptic activity, usually from the temporal lobe to the hypothalamic pituitary axis. Numerous reports have demonstrated that the post-ictal SPRL level may be used to differentiate between epileptic and syncopal, non-epileptic attacks. In order to confirm the hypothesis, the SPRL levels were measured in patients with complex partial seizures (CPS) and patients with vaso-vagal syncopal attacks (VVS). The SPRL levels were prospectively measured for each patient as soon as possible after the event (within 1 hour), then 1 hour after the first determination and finally blood was sampled 24 hours later. During the study period (18 months), 18 patients with CPS and 15 patients with VVS were investigated in total. The mean values of SPRL levels in both groups were increased immediately after the event (CPS group: 1142 +/- 305 mIU/l; VVS group: 874 +/- 208 mIU/l). The elevated SPRL levels were found in 14 (78%) patients immediately after CPS and in 9 (60%) patients immediately after VVS. After examining the results of the present study we conclude that the elevated serum prolactin level after an epileptic attack is of no significant value in differential diagnosis between epileptic and vaso-vagal syncopal attacks.     

Differenzialdiagnostische Kl?rung durch implantierten ?Loop“-Rekorder

It is not yet sufficiently clarified which patients who suffer from repetitive sudden losses of consciousness (SLOC) and for whom the differential diagnosis between epileptic seizure and syncope is open would benefit from the use of an implantable loop recorder (ILR). This article describes the case of a patient who suffered from infrequent SLOC and who had been referred in order to improve the treatment of the suspected drug-resistant epilepsy. The patient had shown normal results during extensive cardiological work-up and presented with normal neurological, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and routine electrocardiogram (EEG) findings. Long-term video EEG also did not reveal any abnormalities. Typical examples of syncope, epileptic and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures had been shown to the husband as an eyewitness but he was still not able to help with the diagnosis. An ILR was implanted and the typical attacks could be recorded and were diagnosed as asystole. The patient was treated with a pacemaker and has remained free from attacks with a follow-up of 4 years. It can be concluded that in adult patients with infrequent SLOC in spite of normal neurological, neuroimaging and long-term EEG results and in spite of normal cardiological findings cardiac syncope is more probable than epileptic seizures. Implantation of an ILR offers a chance to find the correct diagnosis and is therefore recommended if such clinical circumstances exist.     

Diagnosis, management and prognosis of a group of 128 patients with non-epileptic attack disorder. Part I.

Three hundred and forty three patients with attack disorder labelled as epilepsy were admitted for assessment to a Neuropsychiatry ward in a small English mental hospital over a 5 year period. After assessment it was decided that 63% (215) of these patients had epilepsy, but in 128 (37%) a diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures was made. Just over a third of these patients (46) had an additional history of present or past epileptic seizures as well, so that 24% of the total population had non-epileptic seizures only. The methods used to make this diagnosis are reviewed and an attempt made to classify the non-epileptic attacks from which the patients were suffering. A variety of management strategies were offered and at discharge from hospital the majority of patients had practically lost their non-epileptic seizures. At follow-up 2 years later, seizures had returned in most patients. In 8% of the patients it was clear that the diagnosis of non-epilepsy had been erroneous. The importance of classifying the kind of non-epileptic event the patient suffers from and of translating treatment in hospital to the community is emphasized.     

额叶癫痫的长程视频脑电特征及其在额叶癫痫诊断和外科定位中的应用

目的探讨长程视频脑电（VEEG）在额叶癫痫诊断及手术定位中应用的意义。方法回顾性分析47例诊断为额叶性癫痫并进行手术治疗患者的长程视频脑电特征及临床资料。结果癫痫临床发作有以下特点：①持续时间短;②睡眠中较多见;③继发难治全身性发作多见;④强直性或运动性姿势症状突出;⑤常伴发声。癫痫发作间期VEEG存在以下形式：①脑电无异常;②一侧额部或一侧前头部异常波形波幅优势;③额部或前头部异常波形波幅优势且双侧对称;发作期VEEG存在以下形式：①多见去同步化低电压;②一侧或双侧额叶低幅快活动;③一侧或双侧额叶的高幅优势放电;④全导联同步对称异常放电。38例患者的癫痫灶术前被精确定位,9例患者癫痫灶术前不能确定侧别。结论应用长程视频脑电监测能够较全面了解额叶癫痫临床发作表现及脑电图特点,有助于准确诊断及术前定位。     

Epilepsy in middle-aged and elderly people: a three-year observation.

An analysis of the medical documentation and investigation of 130 cases of epilepsy diagnosed in a group of people over 50 years of age (average: 65.4 years) revealed that the most common type of seizure in the group studied was partial (66.2%), followed by seizures with secondary generalization (33.8%). Epilepsy was caused by cerebrovascular disease (50.8%) considerably more often in patients over 74 years of age, craniocerebral trauma in patients addicted to alcohol (13.1%), especially those under 65 years of age, primary or metastatic neoplastic disease (10.7%), and others. The authors wish to draw attention to the leukoaraiosis factor, which might be the proepileptogenic cause of epilepsy recognized in the group of patients over 74 years of age (56.5%) and is much more frequent in this group than in the group of patients under 65 years of age (1.6%). Moreover, some drugs, such as L-dopa and Baclofen, might have been related to the epileptic seizures. In 29 patients (22.3%) the definite cause of late-onset epilepsy was unknown. The authors suggest in such cases, both follow-up tomographic examination and careful clinical examinations. In the study group of patients with initially unknown seizure etiology, some diseases, such as cerebral tumor or colon and pancreatic neoplasm, were diagnosed during follow-up examination. These processes were revealed several months after the first epileptic seizure.     

Epilepsy surgery in patients with additional psychogenic seizures.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether surgery to reduce or control epileptic seizures is safe and effective in patients known to have additional psychogenic seizures. DESIGN: We reviewed our computerized database of 1342 patients examined for epilepsy surgery and identified 13 patients with both epileptic and psychogenic seizures on whom postoperative outcome data were available. Data were gathered from the patients' records. Mean postoperative follow-up was 56 months. RESULTS: Epilepsy surgery led to clinically relevant improvements in 11 of 13 patients. Seven patients became free of epileptic and psychogenic seizures, 2 patients became free of epileptic seizures but continued to have infrequent psychogenic seizures, 1 patient reported more than an 80% improvement in epileptic seizure frequency and an abolishment of psychogenic attacks, and in 1 patient nondisabling epileptic seizures persisted at lower frequency but psychogenic seizures stopped. In 2 of 13 patients, epilepsy surgery failed to produce notable improvements. Although 1 patient became free of epileptic attacks and the other had fewer than 3 epileptic seizures per year, the severity or frequency of psychogenic seizures and pseudo-status epilepticus increased postoperatively. One of these patients had a preoperative diagnosis of somatization disorder; in the other, pathological illness behavior had been noted. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of additional psychogenic seizures should not be considered an absolute contraindication to epilepsy surgery, although patients should undergo careful preoperative psychiatric evaluation.