Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · May 2012
Topiramate and its effect on fMRI of language in patients with right or left temporal lobe epilepsy.
Topiramate (TPM) is well recognized for its negative effects on cognition, language performance and lateralization results on the intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP). But, the effects of TPM on functional MRI (fMRI) of language and the fMRI signals are less clear. Functional MRI is increasingly used for presurgical evaluation of epilepsy patients in place of IAP for language lateralization. ⋯ Further, TPM dose showed positive relationship with activation in the basal ganglia and negative associations with activation in anterior cingulate and posterior visual cortex. Thus, TPM appears to have a different effect on fMRI language distribution in patients with R/L TLE and a dose-dependent effect on fMRI signals. These findings may, in part, explain the negative effects of TPM on cognition and language performance and support the notion that TPM may affect the results of language fMRI lateralization/localization.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Apr 2012
Low serum leptin level is associated with zonisamide-induced weight loss in overweight female epilepsy patients.
Because iatrogenic obesity may hinder medication compliance, it would be a reasonable approach to consider antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that promote weight loss in overweight patients. We performed an open-label, observational study to assess the effects of zonisamide on weight in overweight female epilepsy patients. In particular, we studied how the basal serum leptin level is related to changes in the weight of these patients. ⋯ The correlation of the serum leptin level with weight loss was still significant after the effect of the initial weight was adjusted (p=0.042). Our study shows that low serum leptin level is associated with weight loss in overweight female epilepsy patients. This result may be beneficial for selecting AEDs and provide clues for the pathophysiology of zonisamide-induced weight loss.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Apr 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialPregabalin increases slow-wave sleep and may improve attention in patients with partial epilepsy and insomnia.
Insomnia is a common phenomenon particularly in patients with epilepsy. This study was performed to look at the effects of pregabalin, an anticonvulsant known to increase sleep depth and decrease arousals, in patients with insomnia and well-controlled epilepsy. ⋯ Concurrent treatment with pregabalin improves sleep depth in patients with insomnia and epilepsy and improves daytime attention.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Mar 2012
ReviewSCN1A mutations in Dravet syndrome: impact of interneuron dysfunction on neural networks and cognitive outcome.
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a childhood disorder associated with loss-of-function mutations in SCN1A and is characterized by frequent seizures and severe cognitive impairment. Animal studies have revealed new insights into the mechanisms by which mutations in this gene, encoding the type I voltage-gated sodium channel (Na(v)1.1), may lead to seizure activity and cognitive dysfunction. In this review, we further consider the function of fast-spiking GABAergic neurons, one cell type particularly affected by these mutations, in the context of the temporal coordination of neural activity subserving cognitive functions. We hypothesize that disruptions in GABAergic firing may directly contribute to the poor cognitive outcomes in children with DS, and discuss the therapeutic implications of this possibility.
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Epilepsy & behavior : E&B · Mar 2012
Multicenter StudyRational polytherapy with lacosamide in clinical practice: results of a Spanish cohort analysis RELACOVA.
There has been little long-term success with polytherapy for patients with refractory partial-onset epilepsy. The rational combination of antiepileptic drugs based on their mechanism of action may help improve treatment efficacy and tolerability. Lacosamide, a novel sodium channel blocker (SCB), was investigated in 158 patients with partial-onset epilepsy in the prospective, multicenter, observational, RELACOVA cohort study conducted in Spain. ⋯ Lacosamide was well tolerated; dizziness was the most frequent adverse event. Efficacy was better (responder rate, 65% vs 38%; seizure free rate, 35% vs 17%) and there was a lower adverse event rate (33% vs 58%) in patients receiving non-SCBs (n=49) versus those receiving SCBs (n=104) as concomitant therapy at baseline. Further investigation of lacosamide combination therapy is warranted.