Epilepsy and other Seizure Disorders Flashcards
onset between 2-6 years of age
characterized by atonic/astatic seizures, succeeded by minor motor, tonic-clonic, partial seizures
progressive intellectual impairment in association with distinctive slow 1-2 Hz spike and wave EEG pattern
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
often preced in early life by infantile spasms
characteristic high amplitude chaotic EEG picture (hypsarrhythmia)
persists in adult life and one of the most difficult forms of epilepsy to treat
Most common form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy in older children and young adults
begins in adolescence, approx 15 yrs
generalized tonic-clonic upon awakening, myoclonic jerks in the morning that involved the entire body
sometimes absence seziures are prominent
precipitating factors: fatigue, early stages of sleep, alcohol ingestion
EEG shows: characteristic bursts of 4-6 Hz irregular polyspike activity
does not impair intelligence and tends not to be progressive
Tc: Valproate, alternatives for pregnant women: levetiracetam, lamotrigine
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
true or false
Neonatal seizures occurring within 24 to 48 h of a difficult birth are usually indicative of severe cerebral damage, usually anoxic, either antenatal or parturitional. Such infants often succumb, and about half of the survivors are seriously handicapped
true
true or false
Seizures having their onset several days or weeks after birth are more often an expression of acquired or hereditary metabolic disease. In the latter group, hypoglycemia is the most frequent cause; another, hypocalcemia with tetany, has become infrequent
true
semiology corresponds to the regions of the brain affected
clonic contractions
motor cortex
semiology corresponds to the regions of the brain affected
contractions of the contralateral arm, face, neck, or all of one side of the body
premotor cortex BA 6
semiology corresponds to the regions of the brain affected
tonic elevation and extension of the contralateral arm (fencing posture) and choreoathetotic and dystonic postures
high medial frontal lesions BA 8 and supplementary motor cortex
semiology corresponds to the regions of the brain affected
olfactory hallucinations
inferior and medial parts of temporal lobe
region of the parahippocampal convolution or the uncus
unicinate seizures
semiology corresponds to the regions of the brain affected
gustatory hallucinations
temporal lobe lesions
insula and parietal operculum
semiology corresponds to the regions of the brain affected
visual seizures
lesions in or near the striate cortex of the occipital lobe
red>blue>green>yellow
also in anteromedial temporal and occipitotemporal regions
semiology corresponds to the regions of the brain affected
vertiginous sensations
superoposterior temporal region or junction between parietal and temporal lobes
intense perception of familiarity in an unfamiliar circumstance or place
deja vu
strangeness or unfamiliarity in a previously known place or circumstance
jamais vu
True or False
Volvular epilepsy, epilepsia procursiva, and promania are actually more common in temporal lobes than with frontal lobe foci of origin.
False
more common in frontal lobe
The patient may walk repetitively in small circles (valvular epilepsy), run (epilepsia procursiva), or simply wander aimlessly, either as an ictal or postictal phenomenon (poriomania). Theseforms of seizure, according to some epileptologists, are actually more common with frontal lobe than with temporal lobe foci of origin.
common focal motor epilepsy
self-limiting despite very abnormal EEG
Autosomal dominant begins 5-9 yrs of age
nocturnal tonic-clonic seizure, focal
then clonic contractions of the face, less often of one arm or leg
interictal EEG - high-voltage spikes in the contralateral lower rolandic or centrotemporal area
controlled by singe AED, disappear during adolescences
Benign Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes
Rolandic Epilepsy
Sylvian Epilepsy
dramatic form of epilepsy of infancy and early childhood
appears during the first year of life
recurrent, single or brief episodes of gross flexion movements of the trunk and limbs and less frequently by extension movements
(infantile spasms, salaam, jackknife seizures)
EEG: multifocal spikes and slow waves of large amplitude - hypsarrhythmia
child matures, the seizures diminish and disappears by the 4th-5th year
MRI: cortical dygeneses
may respond well to ACTH, corticosteroids, benzodiazepine drugs, clonazepam is most widely used
May later progress to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Infantile Spasms
or West Syndrome
specific to infants and children between 6 months and 5 years of age (peak incidence 9-20 months)
and with a strong inherited tendency
regarded as a benign condition
single, generalized motor seizure occurring at the patient’s core temperature rises or reaches its peak
temp usually above 38C
Febrile seizure
one of the most common illness to precipitate febrile seizure
herpesvirus 6
chronic focal encephalitis
intractable epilepsy in association with progressive hemiparesis
Rasmussen syndrome
cortex: mild meningeal infiltration of inflammatory cells and an encephalitic process marked by neuronal destruction, gliosis, neuronophagia, some degree of tissue necrosis, perivascular cuffing
neuropatho: extensive destruction of the cortex and white matter with intensive gliosis and lingering inflammatory reactions
finding of antibodies _____ in cases of Rasmussen encephalitis has raised interest in an immune causation
Glutamate receptors GluR3
repeated nonconvulsive electrical stimulation of normal cortex induces a permanent epileptic focus
kindling phenomenon
True or False
A small number of healthy persons, about 2-3%, show paroxysmal EEG abnormalities.
True
p 335
A singe EEG tracing obtained during the interictal state is abnormal to some degree in _____% of epileptic patients
this figure rises to ____% if patients are subjected to several recordings
30-50%
60-70%
True or False
The region of earliest spike activity corresponds best to the epileptogenic focus.
True
p335
Concentrations of serum ______ like those of hypothalamic hormones, rise 10-20 mins after all types of generalized seizures, including complex partial types, but not in absence and myoclonic types.
prolactin
True or False
Serum prolactin may also be elevated after a syncopal episode.
True
T/F
Seizures on awakening usually signify an generalized type, whereas those occurring during the period of sleep are more often focal in nature.
True
p322
EEG in absence seizures
3 hz spike-and-wave pattern
T/F
It is common to see absence seizure in patients less than 4 years old and after puberty.
False
rare
p323
EEG in JME
bursts of 4-6 Hz irregular polyspike activity
For Monogenic Epileptic Disorders
What protein/channels are affected for the ffg
Dravet syndrome
SCN1A
sodium channel a-subunit
For Monogenic Epileptic Disorders
What protein/channels are affected for the ffg
Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions
SCN2A
sodium channel subunits
For Monogenic Epileptic Disorders
What protein/channels are affected for the ffg
Benign Infantile epilepsy
KCNQ2,3
potassium channels
For Monogenic Epileptic Disorders
What protein/channels are affected for the ffg
JME
GABRA1
CACNB4
GABA a receptor subunit
less often calcium channel
For Monogenic Epileptic Disorders
What protein/channels are affected for the ffg
Tuberous sclerosis
TSC1, 2
hamartin
tuberin
laughter as the most striking feature of a seizure
Gelastic epilepsy