Epilepsy Flashcards
What is the usual EEG finding of primary generalized epilepsies?
2.5-4 Hz bifrontally predominant spikes or polyspike-and-slow-wave dischargesthat arise without underlying sturcutral abnormalities
Identify the localization:
1. Masticatory, salivation, speech arrest
2. Head and eye turning associated with arm movement or athetoid-dystonic postures
3. Vertiginous aura
4 Olfactory aura
5 Gustatory aura (salivation or thirst sensation)
6 Visceral or autonomic aura
7 Formed hallucinations
8 Vertiginous
9 Auditory
- Amygdaloid nuclei, opercular
- Supplementary motor cortex
- Superoposterior temporal region
- Mesial temporal, parahippocampal convolution/ uncus
- Insula
6 Insular orbital frontal cortex (temporal usually)
7 Temporal neocortex or amygdaloid hippocampal complex
8 Superoposterior temporal region
9 Superior temporal convultion, Heschl gyrus
T or F Primarily generalized epilepsies usually are underlied by a genetic component while secondary generalized tonic clonic seizures generally do not have such genetic component
T
What part of the tongue is bitten in an epileptic fit? how about in a pseudoseizure?
Lateral margin of the tongue
Tip of the tongue
T or F Seizures occurring on awakening are usually focal in nature while those occurring during sleep are usually generalized
F
What is the typical EEG of absence?
3 per second spike and wave pattern
What percentage of absence seizures are completely motionless?
10%
T or F 1/3 of children with absence attacks will, in addition, display symmetrical or asymmetrical myoclonic jerks without LOC while 1/2 will at some time have GTCs
T
Lennox Gestaut syndrom is often preceded by?
infantile spasms (hypsarrhythmia)
What composes west syndrome?
- Infantile spasms
- Hypsarrhythmia
- Arrest in mental development
What is the most common form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy?
JME
What is the EEG pattern of JME?
4-6 Hz polyspike activity on EEG
If a young female has JME what drug should be given?
VA is the most effective but owing to its terarogenicity, levetiraceteam or lamotrigine may be more appropriate
What gene and protein responsible for
- Dravet syndrome (severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy)
- Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
- Tuberous sclerosis, generalized epilepsy
- Angelman syndrome, myoclonic, tonic clonic, atonic
- Lafora body disease with PME (progressive myoclonic epilepsy
- Unverricht-Lundborg disease with PME
- Familial generalized seizures with febrile seizures
- Dravet SCN1A, sodium channel alpha subunit
- GABRA1 (CACNB4), GABA A receptor subunit
- TSC1, 2– hamartin tuberin
- Angelman: UBE3A, Ubiquitin-protein ligase
- Lafora– EPM2A: Laforin, protein tyrosine phosphatase
- ULD: EPM1– Cystatin B
- SCN1 A,B– sodium channel subunits/ GABA receptor
Describe a Jacksonian seizure?
Where does contraversive turning of head and eyes originate?
Where does the fencing posture with associated choreoathetotic and dystonic postures?
Turning movement of the head and eyes to the side opposite the irritative focus often associated with a tonic extension of limbs on the side contralateral to the affected hemisphere
Superolateral frontal region Area 8 just anterior to Area 6
High medial frontal lesions (Area 8 and supplementary motor cortex)
What is the most common color associated with Visual Seizures?
Red
followed by blue green yellow
UP Ateneo DLSU UST
T or F. Nondirected oppositional resistance to restraint may manifest in those with temporal lobe epilepsy.
T.
2.4 % may have outbursts of intense rage
T or F. Post ictal nose wiping is seen in half of temporal lobe epilepsy patients is carried out by the hand contralateral to the lesion
F. IPSILATERAL TO THE SEIZURE FOCUS
What is the triad of behavioral abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsy?
- Hyposexuality
- Hypergraphia
- Hyperreligiosity
What are risk factors for SUDEP?
- Postictal period immediately after a tonic clonic seizure
- Increasing seizure frequency
- Lack of successful treatment
- Subtherapeutic AED levels
- Early adulthood
- Long standing epilepsy
- Mental retardation
AKA Epilepsy with occipital spikes manifesting as visual hallucinations
Panayiotopoulos syndrome
Salaam or Jacknife seizures are also known as?
Infantile spasms on account of the single or brief episodes of gross flexion movements of the trunk and limbs
What drugs may be given to infantile spasms
- Not associated with tuberous sclerosis
- Associated with TS
- ACTH, Steroids, Clonazepam
2. Vigabatrin
What is the risk of developing unprovoked seizures later in life for patients with
1. Simple febrile seizures
2. Complex febrile seizures with 1 feature
3. Complex febrile seizures with 2 features
3. Complex febrile seizures with 3 features
Features are: Focal, Prolonged, Repeated episodes
- 2.4%
- 8%
- 17%
- 49%
What is the most common type of reflex epilepsy?
Visual
Seizures are usually myoclonic
In those with intractable focal epilepsy in association with progressive hemiparesis, what should be a consideration?
Rasmussen syndrome
May be responsive to corticosteroids, plasma exchange and IVIG
What antibodies are found in Rasmussen encephalitis?
Ab to GluR3
T or F Incontinence assists greatly in the differentiation between seizures and pseudoseizures
F
What are the 3 conditions for development of a discharging lesion in epilepsy?
- Pathologically excitable neurons, deafferented neurons that become hyperexcitable on account of increased ionic permeability
- Increased glutaminergic activity
- Reduction GABAergic activity
What 2 phenomena form the basis of Todd’s paralysis?
- Excess of inhibitory mechanisms
2. Metabolic exhaustion from bursts of neurons
The interictal EEG is abnormal in how many percent of epileptic patients?
30-50%
What epileptic focus usually shows EEG abnormalities during sleep?
Temporal lobes
In about 15% of patients what can be seen in the CSF after a seizures?
10-50 WBCs
T or F. Serum prolactin like those of other hypothalamic hormones rise 10 to 20 minutes after all types of generalized seizures including complex partial types.
T
What is the associated histologic finding in medial temporal sclerosis (neuronal loss with gliosis)?
CA1 segment (Sommer sector) of the pyramidal cell layer
In primary generalized epilepsies, how many percent have a familial incidence?
5-10%
What forms of progressive myoclonic epilepsy results from mutations of
- Cystatin B
- Tyrosine phosphatase
- Unverricht-Lundborg
2. Lafora disease
T or F. Limb shaking TIA and convulsive phenomena at the outset of basilar artery occlusion may be nearly impossible to distinguish from epilepsy.
T
Fifth day seizures occur when?
Days 2 and 3 up to day 7
What are the most common metallic poisons that cause convulsions?
Lead in children
Mercury in children and adults
What antibiotics can cause seizures?
Imipinem
Cefempime
T or F. Propofol can cause myoclonus.
T
What percentage of embolic cortical infarcts trigger seizures after several months?
fewer than 10%
How does pregnancy impact the frequency of seizures in an epileptic?
2/3 no change
1/6 worsen
1/6 improve
T or F. CBZ, Phenytoin and VA are all found in mother’s milk
VA is highly protein bound. Virtually absent in breast milk
What is the most common the cause of epilepsy in the adult life?
Infarct
What drugs can be taken only once daily on account of their long half lives?
Phenytoin
Phenobarbital
Ethusuximide
What percentage of epileptics will be controlled AEDs?
70% completely controlled
20-25% will have significantly reduced seizure frequency
Indicate the first line drugs
- GTC
- Myoclonic
- Focal
- Absence
- VA, Phenytoin
- VA
- Carbamazepine, Phenytoin
- VA
What are the effective blood levels of the ff
- Phenytoin
- Valproic Acid
- Phenobarbital
- 10-20
- 50-100
- 15-40
What drug can lead to the buildup of Carbamazepine epoxide when added?
Valproic acid inhibits epoxide hydrolase
At what level does non linear kinetics start for phenytoin?
10mg/ml
How do salicylates and valproic acid increase the levels of phenytoin and phenobarbital?
Displacing them from their protein binding
How do antacids and histamine blockers affect phenytoin levels?
Antacids reduce
Histamine blockers increase
T or F Dialysis removes Pb and ethosuximide
T
What are the most common teratogenic effects of AEDs?
Cleft lip and palate
Pregnant women in general have what percentage risk of developing a congenital malformation?
2-3%.
Lamotrigine 3%
What AEDs may be started in patients off AEDs but with recurrence of seizures while pregnant?
Phenytoin + Levetiracetam