Epilepsia
-
Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is the most frequent histopathology encountered in patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Over the past decades, various attempts have been made to classify specific patterns of hippocampal neuronal cell loss and correlate subtypes with postsurgical outcome. However, no international consensus about definitions and terminology has been achieved. ⋯ HS ILAE type 1 is more often associated with a history of initial precipitating injuries before age 5 years, with early seizure onset, and favorable postsurgical seizure control. CA1 predominant HS ILAE type 2 and CA4 predominant HS ILAE type 3 have been studied less systematically so far, but some reports point to less favorable outcome, and to differences regarding epilepsy history, including age of seizure onset. The proposed international consensus classification will aid in the characterization of specific clinicopathologic syndromes, and explore variability in imaging and electrophysiology findings, and in postsurgical seizure control.
-
HLA-B*15:02 screening is recommended before starting carbamazepine in Han Chinese and Southeast Asians because the allele is strongly predictive of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) induced by the drug. We examined whether other HLA-B alleles are also involved and whether the association extends to other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). ⋯ SJS/TEN induced by carbamazepine and phenytoin is strongly and moderately associated with HLA-B*15:02 in Han Chinese, respectively. Possible protective associations with HLA-B*40:01 and HLA-B*58:01 warrant further investigation.
-
Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) occurs in a proportion of traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, significantly compounding the disability, and risk of injury and death for sufferers. To date, predictive biomarkers for PTE have not been identified. This study used the lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) rat model of TBI to investigate whether structural, functional, and behavioral changes post-TBI relate to the later development of PTE. ⋯ These findings suggest that PTE may be independent of major structural, functional, and behavioral changes induced by TBI, and suggest that more subtle abnormalities are likely involved. However, there are limitations associated with studying acquired epilepsies in animal models that must be considered when interpreting these results, in particular the failure to detect differences between the groups may be related to the limitations of properly identifying/separating the epileptic and nonepileptic animals into the correct group.
-
Prolonged febrile seizures (PFS) lasting ≥15 min have been associated with increased risk for epilepsy in later life. Initial treatment, mostly prehospital, aims to prevent its evolution to febrile status epilepticus (FSE) and reduce adverse outcome. Paucity of information is available on the immediate treatment before reaching a hospital facility. ⋯ Most children with PFS are treated with antiepileptic drugs early by the ambulance service. However, even timely treatment does not prevent status epilepticus in the majority of cases. These data highlight the need for effective early treatment of this common pediatric emergency.
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Intravenous topiramate: comparison of pharmacokinetics and safety with the oral formulation in healthy volunteers.
Although oral topiramate (TPM) products are widely prescribed for migraines and epilepsy, injectable TPM is not available for human use. We have developed a solubilized TPM formulation using a cyclodextrin matrix, Captisol with the long-term goal of evaluating its safety and efficacy in neonatal seizures. This study in healthy adult volunteers was performed as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to demonstrate the pharmacokinetics and safety prior to initiation of studies involving children. This study allowed investigation of absolute bioavailability, absolute clearance, and distribution volume of TPM, information that could not be obtained without using an intravenous TPM formulation. ⋯ In healthy adults, oral TPM is bioequivalent to intravenous TPM, and infusion of 50-100 mg over 15 min is safe. Neurologic effects occurred during the infusion, demonstrating that TPM rapidly diffuses into the brain, which supports its evaluation for neonatal seizures. Results from this pilot study will inform the design of subsequent studies in children and newborns, including controlled clinical trials intended to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous TPM for neonatal seizures. In addition, our results provide support for the further development of intravenous TPM as bridge therapy for older children and adults in whom oral TPM therapy is interrupted.