Acta neurologica Scandinavica
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyBilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: comparison of scalp EEG and hippocampal MRI-T2 relaxometry.
Bilateral hippocampal abnormality is frequent in mesial temporal lobe sclerosis and might affect outcome in epilepsy surgery. The objective of this study was to compare the lateralization of interictal and ictal scalp EEG with MRI T2 relaxometry. ⋯ Our data suggest that EEG seizure propagation is more closely related to hippocampal T2 abnormalities than IED. Interictal and ictal scalp EEG, including the recognition of ictal propagation patterns, and MRI T2 relaxometry can help to identify patients with bitemporal damage in MTLE. Further studies are needed to estimate the impact of bilateral EEG and MRI abnormal findings on the surgical outcome.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Sep 2004
Clinical TrialCSF outflow resistance as predictor of shunt function. A long-term study.
Little is known about the long-term impact of a CSF shunt on the human CSF hydrodynamic system. In patients with communicating hydrocephalus, patency of the shunt system is not regularly assessed. In order to reveal postoperative changes in the CSF hydrodynamic system, we prospectively investigated the features of the system in shunted patients with idiopathic adult hydrocephalus syndrome (IAHS) over a 3-year period. ⋯ The CSF outflow resistance is much decreased postoperatively and does not alter over time in patients with functioning shunts. We consider CSF outflow resistance to be a reliable indicator of shunt function and of fundamental importance to distinguish a dysfunctioning shunt from an aggravation of the primary condition in patients with communicating hydrocephalus. The unaltered intracranial pressure together with the in vitro model results, suggests that the intra-abdominal pressure might be a major determinant of the postoperative intracranial pressure.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Sep 2004
Case Reports Clinical TrialEfficacy of levetiracetam in pharmacoresistant continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep.
To evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) in continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS). Despite first description dates back to 1971, no agreement exists about CSWS treatment. The condition is rare and controlled clinical trials are very difficult to perform, so the reports about efficacy of different drugs are anecdotal. ⋯ Even if our report is anecdotal, LEV expands the spectrum of antiepileptic drugs that can be used for the treatment of CSWS. LEV efficacy should be confirmed in larger series.
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Acta Neurol. Scand. · Jun 2004
Comparative StudyDiagnosis of multiple sclerosis: comparison of the Poser criteria and the new McDonald criteria.
A confident and accurate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is important, but a specific diagnostic test for the disease does not exist. The traditional diagnostic criteria of Poser et al. were published in 1983, and recently, McDonald et al. recommended new criteria for the diagnosis of MS. ⋯ MS according to the McDonald criteria was diagnosed more often than 'clinically definite MS' according to Poser et al., but combining the categories of clinically and laboratory definite MS, the diagnosis of MS could clearly be established more frequently using the Poser criteria.
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Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a common disorder in the general population. Although the mechanisms remain obscure, an association with headache has been reported. We aimed to assess the frequency of OSA in a population of headache patients based on a stratified sampling technique using questionnaire and polysomnography (PSG). ⋯ The frequency of OSA in a patients referred to specialist for headache problems is not higher than what is reported for the general population. The relatively low rate of OSA in this selected group of patients with headache referred to neurology for second opinion does not support the notion that OSA brings about headache.