Clinical profile of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in adults: A study of 63 cases

Aims:

To evaluate clinical profile and short-term outcome of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) in Indian adult population.

Setting and Design:

A prospective observational study, conducted at tertiary teaching institute at New Delhi.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty-three patients with confirmed PNES were enrolled. The diagnosis was based on witnessing the event during video-electroencephalography (Video-EEG) monitoring. A detailed clinical evaluation was done including evaluation for coexistent anxiety or depressive disorders. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of excessive or paucity of movements during PNES attacks. Patients were followed-up to 12 months for their PNES frequency.

Statistical Analysis:

Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables. Chi-square and Students t-test were used to compare categorical and continuous variables respectively.

Results:

The mean age at onset of PNES was 25.44 years; with F:M ratio of 9.5:1. Coexistent epilepsy was present in 13 (20.63%) cases. Twenty-two patients (44%) with only PNES (n = 50) had received antiepileptic drugs. Out of 63 patients of PNES 24 (38.1%) had predominant motor phenomenon, whereas 39 (61.9%) had limp attacks. The common features observed were pre-ictal headache, ictal eye closure, jaw clenching, resistant behavior, ictal weeping, ictal vocalization, and unresponsiveness during episodes. Comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders was seen in 62.3% and 90.16% patients, respectively. Short-term (6-12 months) outcome of 45 patients was good (seizure freedom in 46.66% and >50% improvement in 24.44% cases).

Conclusion:

PNES is common, but frequently misdiagnosed and treated as epileptic seizures. A high index of suspicion is required for an early diagnosis. Proper disclosure of diagnosis and management of the psychiatric comorbidities can improve their outcome.

Limitation:

Limited sample size and change in seizures frequency as the only parameter for the assessment of the outcome are the two major limitations of our study.     

EEG,brain maturation,and the development of retinopathy of prematurity

Objectives: The factors that influence the central nervous system (CNS) development can affect either the retina or the brain cortex. Immaturity of the brain cortex reflects immaturity of the retina and vice versa. The immature retina is more vulnerable than the mature retina, and is therefore more likely to develop retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The aim of this study was to compare electroencephalographic brain maturity with ROP severity. Methods: Twenty-one prematurely born infants were divided into two groups according to the severity of ROP. The first group included 12 infants with ROP stage 3 or more and the second group included nine infants with ROP stage 2 or less. We have proposed an index of CNS maturity (M) as a percentage of interburst interval elongation compared with the norm using video-electroencephalography (vEEG). Results: The median M value was 1.07 (range = 0.43–4.44) for infants with severe ROP and ?0.1 (range = ?1.0 to 1.45) for infants with mild or no ROP (p = 0.000948). Conclusions: The study revealed that CNS maturation delay expressed as M value was higher among infants with severe ROP than among infants with mild or no ROP. EEG examination in prematurely born infants may prove to be a useful tool for predicting ROP development.     

癫痫患者深睡期血流动力学改变与认知功能障碍的关系

目的探究癫痫患者深睡期血流动力学参数与认知功能障碍关系。方法选取2015年2月至2020年2月该院收治的102例癫痫患者作为癫痫组,按照蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)将患者分为认知障碍组(35例,MoCA26分)和无认知障碍组(67例,MoCA≥26分),另选该院体检健康人员32例作为正常对照组。同步监测所有纳入对象深睡期(N3+N4期)脑电波及血流动力学变化,并分析其与患者认知功能的关系。结果认知障碍组初发年龄低于无认知障碍组;病程、每月发作次数、全面发作比例高于无认知障碍组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。认知障碍组、无认知障碍组REM、N1期、N2期高于正常对照组;N3+N4期低于正常对照组(P0.05)。认知障碍组REM、N1期高于无认知障碍组;N3+N4期、TST低于无认知障碍组(P0.05)。认知障碍组深睡期发作期间痫样放电(IED)指数低于无认知障碍组;非快速动眼睡眠期棘波指数(SWI)高于无认知障碍组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。认知障碍组深睡期大脑中动脉平均血流速度(CBFVm)、CBFV波动程度高于无认知障碍组和正常对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);无认知障碍组和正常对照组深睡期CBFVm、CBFV波动程度比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论癫痫患者深睡期存在明显的血流动力学变化,其中CBFV波动与患者认知功能下降有关。     

Complex Partial Seizures of Temporal Lobe Origin in Children of Different Age Groups

Summary: The semiology of complex partial seizures(CPS) of temporal lobe origin in adults is well known and is important in establishing seizure localization in patients considered for epilepsy surgery. In contrast, the behavioral features of temporal lobe seizures (TLS) in children described in the literature have not been consistent. In the present study, we investigated children with TLS to compare their attacks to TLS occurring in adults. The study was based on video recordings of 29 children with TLS aged 18 months to 16 years. Children were included, if they became seizure-free after temporal lobectomy (except 4 children with a marked reduction in seizure frequency and 1 with isolated auras), and if clear unitemporal seizure onset in ictal EEG-recordings, unilateral radiological lesions, and corresponding histopathological findings were detected. Children aged >6 years had TLS with features similar to those of adults. In younger children, typical semiology included symmetric motor phenomena of the limbs, postures similar to frontal lobe seizures in adults, and head nodding as in infantile spasms. We concluded that the clinical features of TLS in younger children can be misleading and should therefore be considered with caution in selecting patients for surgical procedures on the temporal lobe.     

视频脑电图术前评估抗癫痫药物缓慢撤药方案的有效性和安全性

目的探讨抗癫痫药物缓慢撤药方案和苯二氮卓类药物急救方案在癫痫术前评估视频脑电监测中的有效性和安全性。方法 109例难治性局灶性癫痫患者行术前评估视频脑电图监测,其中62例施予抗癫痫药物缓慢撤药方案和苯二氮卓类药物急救方案,56例患者录得临床发作,记录首次发作时间,监测总时程,以及4 h丛集发作和24 h丛集发作,继发全面强直阵挛发作,跌倒,癫痫持续状态,心跳骤停,发作持续时间等。结果 62例患者中56例共录得191次发作,诊断效率为90.3%。首次发作时间平均为2.4 d,视频脑电图监测总时程平均为6.8 d。不良事件发生情况,8例患者(12.9%)有4 h丛集发作,24例患者(38.7%)有24 h丛集发作,颞叶外癫痫聚集发作较颞叶癫痫聚集发作多见;15例患者(26.8%)记录到19次继发全面强直阵挛发作;无癫痫持续状态发生;无伴心跳骤停的发作;4例癫痫跌倒患者未发生重大伤害。结论缓慢递减抗癫痫药物下进行术前视频脑电监测常见癫痫丛集发作,罕见发生严重不良事件,难治性局灶性癫痫术前评估视频脑电监测诊断中应用抗癫痫药物缓慢撤药方案和苯二氮类药物急救方案是安全有效的。     

促皮质素治疗前后婴儿痉挛患儿视频脑电图变化及其与预后的关系

目的 观察婴儿痉挛(IS)患儿促皮质素(ACTH)治疗前后视频脑电图(VEEG)变化并进行追踪随访,以了解其与预后的关系并评价影响预后的因素.方法 对2008年1月- 2011年1月在本科住院的52例IS患儿行VEEG长时间监测,对治疗前后VEEG进行分析,包括高峰失律、背景、睡眠纺锤波等;并对其临床随访资料进行回顾性研究.结果 ACTH患儿治疗4周后无论症状性IS还是隐源性IS,高峰失律均基本消失.随访6个月,无发作16例;发作未完全缓解36例,发作形式为痉挛发作、局限性发作和全面强直发作.病程≤2个月、隐源性IS、起病年龄＜8个月、ACTH近期疗效好及VEEG为典型高峰失律的患儿临床预后好;ACTH治疗前VEEG呈局灶性高峰失律者预后不良;ACTH满疗程时VEEG背景不正常、高峰失律不消失及睡眠纺锤波持续不出现者临床预后不良;随访6个月VEEG仍为高峰失律的患儿均为症状性IS,预后差.结论 ACTH治疗前后监测VEEG对评价IS临床预后具有重要作用.     

FDG-Positron Emission Tomography and Invasive EEG: Seizure Focus Detection and Surgical Outcome

Summary: Purpose : To study the value of [¹⁸F]2-deoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography when surface ictal EEG is nonlocalizing.
Methods : FDG-PET scans were performed in 46 patients with complex partial seizures (CPS) not localized by ictal SUT-face-sphenoidal video-EEG (VEEG) telemetry. Interictal PET was performed with continuous EEG monitoring, and images were analyzed with a standard template. Forty patients subsequently had subdural and 6 had depth electrodes (invasive EEG, IEEG); 22 had bilateral implants. A focus was detected in 40, and 35 had temporal lobectomy based on IEEG localization.
Results : There was a close association between IEEG and PET localization (p < 0.01): 26 patients had relative unilateral temporal FDG-PET hypometabolism, all had congruent IEEG, and 18 of 23 were seizure-free after temporal lobectomy. Five patients had unilateral frontotemporal hypometabolism (3 of 5 were seizure-free), 1 had frontal hypometabolism, and 14 had no lateralized PET abnormality (4 of 7 were seizure-free). Patients who became seizure-free had significantly higher lateral temporal asymmetry index (AI). PET showed 315% relative temporal hypometabolism (AI) in 12 of 22 patients with non-lateralized surface ictal VEEG and was capable of distinguishing between frontal and temporal foci in 16 of 24 patients with lateralized, but not localized, surface ictal video-EEG.
Conclusions : FDG-PET provides valuable data in patients with unlocalized surface ictal EEG and can reduce the number of patients who require IEEG studies. Quantitation is necessary for optimal PET interpretation.     

Heart rate variability in neonatal patients with seizures

Objective

Seizures are frequently observed in neurological conditions affecting newborns. Since autonomic alterations are commonly associated with neonatal seizures (NS), we investigated the utility of heart rate variability (HRV) indexes of cardiac autonomic regulation for NS detection.