Definition of drug resistant epilepsy: consensus proposal by the ad hoc Task Force of the ILAE Commission on Therapeutic Strategies

Cost-effectiveness of clobazam as an adjunctive treatment for refractory epilepsy in China

BACKGROUND

Clobazam (CLB) is an effective, safe and well-tolerated adjunctive treatment for refractory epilepsy. However, the cost-effectiveness of CLB in China remains unclear.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CLB as an adjunctive therapy for patients with refractory epilepsy in China.

METHOD

A Markov model was established to simulate the lifetime epilepsy process in patients. The epilepsy remission rate, health state utility and mortality data were derived from clinical trials and the literature. The costs were collected from the health care system in the hospital. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), which was calculated by comparing CLB as an add-on therapy with conventional therapy and was assessed in the context of the Chinese health system. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate parameter uncertainty, and several scenario analyses were also conducted.

RESULTS

Compared with maintaining conventional therapy, adding CLB as an adjuvant therapy increased the cost of Chinese Yuan (CNY) 1770.17 over a lifetime, with an incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) value of 1.02, resulting in an ICER of CNY 1737.10 per QALY gained. The daily dose of CLB had the strongest effect on the ICER. The probabilistic sensitivity analyses revealed that the probability of CLB being cost-effective was 77.35% at a willingness to pay (WTP) of CNY 85698/QALY.

CONCLUSION

CLB is a cost-effective add-on therapy for refractory epilepsy in the Chinese population.

Epilepsy surgery in patients with Sturge-Weber Syndrome

Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) is a neurovascular condition caused by a mutation in the GNAQ gene. The most common neurological manifestations of SWS are epilepsy, developmental delay, and stroke-like episodes. Seizures are often the first neurological symptom, and most patients have drug-resistant epilepsy. Predictors for unfavorable epilepsy outcomes and the need for ASM polytherapy included age of onset, bilateral brain involvement, extensive unilateral hemispheric disease, and a positive family history of epilepsy. The surgical approach to SWS is challenging due to the associated abnormal vasculature and potential complications. Hemispherotomy is associated with high seizure freedom rates and ASM discontinuation, but resective surgery may be an efficient alternative in well-selected patients. Complete seizure control is the ultimate goal of epilepsy surgery; however, reducing seizure severity and frequency may help improve cognitive outcome and quality of life.

The impact of radiofrequency thermocoagulation on brain connectivity in drug-resistant epilepsy: Insights from stereo-electroencephalography and cortico-cortical evoked potentials

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether local lesions created by stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG)-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC) affect distant brain connectivity and excitability in patients with focal, drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

METHODS

Ten patients with focal DRE underwent SEEG implantation and subsequently 1 Hz bipolar repetitive electrical stimulation (RES) for 30 s before and after RFTC. Root mean square (RMS) of cortico-cortical evoked potentials (CCEPs) was calculated for 15 ms to 300 ms post-stimulation with baseline correction. Contact pairs were categorized as both coagulated, hybrid, or both non-coagulated. The data were divided into nine categories based on the stimulating and recording contact pair combinations. RMS of CCEPs was compared before and after (<12 h) RFTC using a two-sample t test (Hochberg corrected, p < 0.05) for each patient. Boost score, indicating power increase during seizures before RFTC relative to baseline, was analyzed in 4 s windows with 1 s overlap during seizure duration.

RESULTS

RFTC altered connectivity across all categories. Of interest, decreases and increases in RMS were observed in connections between non-coagulated contacts distant from coagulation site (range: 1.09-85 mm, median = 17.7 mm, interquartile range [IQR] 10.1-32.3). Contact pairs involved in significantly altered non-coagulated connections showed a higher boost score correlation in the theta, beta, and gamma bands, as well as a stronger maximum correlation with coagulated sites in the delta band than contacts for which connectivity did not change after RFTC.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study highlights how local lesions alter distant brain connectivity, providing insights for future research on epilepsy network changes and seizure outcomes following RFTC.

Ictal cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction during focal seizures induced by direct electrical stimulation: An observational study research protocol

INTRODUCTION

Autonomic symptoms, such as changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration often accompany epileptic seizures and, in some cases, may be life threatening or even contribute to sudden death. However, autonomic changes during seizures with onset from certain brain areas are insufficiently understood. Intracranial direct electrical stimulation during stereoelectroencephalographic (SEEG) monitoring in surgical candidates allows researchers to investigate autonomic responses to induced seizures in conscious patients with known precise location of the electrodes. We aimed to identify the epileptogenic focus locations or brain structures associated with ictal cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction during focal seizures induced by direct electrical stimulation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is an observational study. In focal epilepsy patients undergoing presurgical evaluation with implanted intracranial SEEG electrodes, we will record heart rate (HR), beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP), and respiratory rate during the SEEG monitoring and stimulation conducted in accordance with the clinical needs. Tachycardia (HR > 100 bpm), bradycardia (HR < 60 bpm), hypertension (systolic or diastolic BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg), and hypotension (systolic or diastolic BP < 90/60 mmHg) during the first minute of induced clinical seizures will be considered as ictal cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. We will use the chi-squared test to compare percentage of dysautonomia-associated seizures in the total number of induced seizures between cortical areas related to or interconnected with the central autonomic network and other cortical areas. Significance will be assumed for p-values < 0.05. At the time of submission, this study has enrolled thirteen patients and still on-going.

The effect of vagal nerve stimulation treatment on autonomic nervous system in patients with refractory epilepsy

Introduction

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a treatment that can be used in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients who are not suitable for resective surgery. Effects of VNS on the autonomic system are controversial. In our study, we examined SSR and R-R interval variability (RR-IV) to evaluate autonomic functions in patients with refractory epilepsy treated with and without VNS and healthy volunteers.

Methods

Our study included 41 healthy volunteers without any disease or drug administration, 38 DRE patients without VNS, and 38 DRE patients with VNS. Electrophysiological tests of sympathetic skin response (SSR) and RR interval variability (RR-IV) analysis were performed.

Results

While no statistically significant difference was observed between the SSR latencies and amplitudes of the DRE group with VNS and the DRE group without VNS, when the SSR latencies of the 4 extremities of the DRE groups with and without VNS and the control group were compared, it was observed that both groups had statistically significantly longer SSR latencies in all extremities compared to the control group. A statistically significant difference was observed between the DRE with VNS group and the control group and RR-IV was lower in the DRE with VNS group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study is one of the rare studies investigating the effects of VNS on the sympathetic system in patients with refractory epilepsy. According to the SSR and RR-IV results in our study, there was no evidence that VNS caused sympathetic dysfunction. However, VNS may cause a shift in cardiac sympathovagal balance toward sympathetic dominance.

Mobilizing a New Era in Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Treatment and Prevention

This review summarizes content presented at the Pediatric State of the Art Symposium held during the American Epilepsy Society's annual meeting in December 2024. The symposium focused on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy that emerges in childhood. Despite its diverse etiologies, LGS is defined by a convergent constellation of electroclinical features: multiple seizure types including tonic seizures, slow spike-wave and generalized paroxysmal fast activity on EEG, and intellectual disability. LGS is almost always refractory to available therapies and accounts for substantial costs-in healthcare spending and in quality of life for affected individuals, their families, and caregivers. The symposium highlighted recent breakthroughs in research, clinical care, and outcome measurement that have positioned the clinical, scientific, and patient advocacy communities to usher in a new, more hopeful era of treatment and prevention.

Prevalence of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) Subtypes and Response to Resective Surgery in Patients with Presumed TLE Undergoing Limbic and Paralimbic Network Exploration with Stereo-Electrodes

Background/Objectives: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) responds well to surgical treatment, although a considerable percentage of patients experience seizure recurrence after resection. Relapse from the contralateral mesial temporal lobe, extratemporal lobe epilepsy mimicking TLE, or temporal plus epilepsy might account for surgical failures. Methods: We included patients with a pre-implantation hypothesis suggesting TLE, who underwent stereo-EEG (SEEG) evaluation at our institution and had an individual SEEG exploration paradigm with at least twelve stereo-electrodes placed to sixteen brain regions allowing exploration of limbic and paralimbic networks. We analyzed the prevalence of TLE subtypes based on ictal onset localization with SEEG and response to resective surgery. Results: Twenty-four subjects met the inclusion criteria. Seven patients had unilateral mesial temporal epilepsy (UMTE), five had bilateral mesial temporal epilepsy (BMTE), five had unilateral neocortical temporal epilepsy (UNTE), six had temporal-plus epilepsy (TPE), one had extratemporal epilepsy (ETE). The number of patients who underwent destructive surgeries and surgical outcomes are as follows: UMTE-all seven patients, Engel I; BMTE- three out of five, Engel I, III, and IV, respectively; UNTE-three out of five, Engel I; TLE mimic (ETE)-one, Engel I; TPE-all six patients, Engel I-three, Engel III-two, Engel IV-one. Conclusions: In our study, UMTE was the most frequent TLE subtype (29%), and all patients proceeded to resective surgery with good outcomes. TPE comprised a substantial component (25%) of this cohort with initially presumed TLE, who had a notable proportion of unfavorable outcomes. Larger studies are needed to create guidelines for rational counseling of patients with presumed TLE regarding surgical outcomes.

Eye closure sensitivity and related EEG findings: Persistence rates and classification of epilepsy syndromes by the International League Against Epilepsy

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the frequency and persistence rates of eye closure-related epileptiform EEG findings in a cohort with epilepsy and classify them according to the latest epilepsy syndrome classification by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).

METHOD

Consecutive patients referred to the EEG laboratory, showing eye closure sensitivity (ECS) and related EEG findings, were included between October 2022 and August 2024. Their epilepsy syndromes were classified according to ILAE. EEG patterns were categorized as ECS, eye-closed sensitivity, and fixation-off sensitivity (FOS). Persistence rates were calculated for each patient by examining all eye closures in the EEG records. The clinical findings and persistence rates were compared between subgroups by SPSSv26.

RESULTS

Of 5084 EEG traces, 63 (1.3%) from 35 patients with ECS and related EEG findings were included, with a mean age of 21.28 ± 8.38 years, and 68.6% of them were female. ECS was present in 85.7% of the patients, while 14.3% had eye-closed sensitivity, of which 11.1% had FOS. In the cohort, 25.7% had focal epilepsy, whereas 74.3% had generalized epilepsy. The most frequent generalized epilepsy syndrome was epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia (EEM) in 25.7%. Genetic etiology was disclosed in one patient with propionic acidemia, and another had chromosomal duplication at 8p11.21q11.1. ECS was exacerbated by hyperventilation, awakening, and intermittent photic stimulation. Photoparoxysmal response (PPR) was more frequently associated with ECS than with eye-closed sensitivity (95% vs. 5%, respectively). Although the persistence rates (mean: 47.7% ± 8.3%) did not significantly differ with respect to clinical outcomes (18% vs. 21%, p = .33), age was negatively correlated with this ratio (r = -.521, p = .002).

SIGNIFICANCE

Eye closure sensitivity and related sensitivities in EEG exhibit heterogeneity across epileptic syndromes and prognosis. Investigating ECS within the framework of the latest epilepsy syndrome classification, alongside co-occurrences of other activation methods, and calculating persistence rates may offer valuable insights for future genetic research and long-term management.

Cenobamate in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies and generalized epilepsies: A case report on epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures and systematic review of current evidence

BACKGROUND

Cenobamate (CNB) has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the treatment of drug-resistant focal epilepsy (FE). However, its role in other epilepsy types - such as drug-resistant generalized epilepsies (GEs), combined generalized and focal epilepsies (CGFEs), and developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) - remains poorly explored. This article assesses the current evidence of CNB efficacy in these often complex and challenging patient populations.

METHODS

A case report is presented detailing a 22-year-old male with drug-resistant epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures (EMAtS) who achieved seizure freedom on CNB. A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate CNB's efficacy in GEs, CGFEs, and DEEs, summarizing seizure outcomes, adverse events (AEs), and dose-response relationships.

RESULTS

The case report highlights a patient achieving 18 months of sustained seizure freedom and improved quality of life with tapering of concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs). The systematic review included 32 patients from six studies. Overall, 59.4 % achieved a ≥ 50 % seizure reduction, and 9.4 % attained seizure freedom. Subgroup analysis showed ≥50 % reduction in 50 % of patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and 80 % with Dravet syndrome (DS), with seizure freedom rates of 20 % in DS and 50 % in epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia (EEM). AEs, primarily sedation and fatigue, were reported in 74 % of patients, while 31.25 % reduced or tapered off ASMs.

DISCUSSION

CNB demonstrates potential efficacy in managing seizures across drug-resistant epilepsy syndromes, extending its established use beyond FE. Further prospective trials are needed to validate these findings and optimize dosing strategies.

Fatigue, sleep quality, depression symptoms, and antiseizure medication resistance in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy

Background

Complaints of fatigue and poor sleep quality are common in patients with epilepsy. Fatigue may precipitate seizures, and patients with poor sleep quality have higher frequency of seizures and are more likely to have symptoms of depression.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the association of baseline fatigue and sleep quality with antiseizure medication (ASM) resistance in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy (PWNDE). We also evaluate whether the association is mediated by depression symptoms.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study of PWNDE at comprehensive epilepsy center in Northeast China between June 2020 and May 2024. Fatigue, sleep quality, and depression symptoms were assessed at baseline. All patients were followed for 24 months for ASM-resistant epilepsy. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of ASM resistance. Models fitted with restricted cubic spline were performed to test for linear and nonlinear shapes of each association. Mediation analysis was used to estimate the mediating effects of depression severity on association between fatigue, sleep quality, and ASM resistance.

Results

A total of 189 patients (59 ASM-resistant cases and 130 ASM-responsive controls) were included in the final analysis. Baseline fatigue (HR, 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.094-3.583, p = 0.024) and poor sleep quality (HR, 2.193; 95% CI, 1.29-3.729, p = 0.004) were associated with an increased hazard of ASM resistance in PWNDE after full adjustments. There exists a nonlinear association between Fatigue Severity Scale score and the hazard of ASM resistance (P for nonlinear = 0.012). Depression severity partly mediated the effect of fatigue and sleep quality on ASM resistance, with mediated proportions of 18.5% for the fatigue and 23.7% for the sleep quality.

Conclusion

Baseline fatigue and poor sleep quality were associated with an increased risk of ASM resistance. The association between fatigue, sleep quality, and ASM resistance were partly mediated by depression severity. These findings emphasize that patients with ASM-resistant epilepsy are more likely to have fatigue, depression, and poor sleep quality at baseline and this may be unrelated to ASM intake.

An algorithm for drug-resistant epilepsy in Danish national registers

Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) have increased risks of premature death, injuries, psychosocial dysfunction and a reduced quality of life. Identification of persons with DRE in administrative data can allow for effective large-scale research, and we therefore aimed to construct an algorithm for identification of DRE in Danish nation-wide health registers. We used a previously generated sample of 525 persons with medical record-validated incident epilepsy between 2010 and 2019, of whom 80 (15%) fulfilled International League Against Epilepsy criteria of DRE at the time of the latest contact; this cohort was considered the gold standard. We linked information in the validated cohort to Danish national health registers and constructed register-based algorithms for identification of DRE cases. The accuracy of each algorithm was validated against the medical record-validated gold standard. We applied the best-performing algorithm according to test accuracy (F1 score) to a large cohort with incident epilepsy identified in the Danish National Patient Registry between 1995 and 2013 and performed descriptive and logistic regression analyses to characterize the cohort with DRE as identified by the algorithm. The best-performing algorithm in terms of F1 score was defined as 'fillings of prescriptions for ≥3 distinct antiseizure medications (ASMs) within 3 years or acute hospital visit with epilepsy/convulsions following fillings of prescriptions for two distinct ASMs' (sensitivity 0.59, specificity 0.93, positive predictive value 0.59, negative predictive value 0.92, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.77, and F1 score 0.595). Applying the algorithm to a register-based cohort of 83 682 individuals with incident epilepsy yielded 8650 cases (10.3%) with DRE. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, early onset of epilepsy, focal or generalized epilepsy, somatic co-morbidity and substance abuse were independently associated with risk of being classified with DRE. We developed an algorithm for the identification of DRE in Danish national registers, which can be applied for a variety of research questions. We identified early onset of epilepsy, focal or generalized epilepsy, somatic co-morbidity and substance abuse as risk factors for DRE.

Gene mutations linked to drug-resistant epilepsy in astrocytoma

Introduction

Epilepsy is common in gliomas, particularly astrocytomas, even in patients who have undergone total tumor resection. Resistance to antiseizure drugs presents a significant challenge in managing epilepsy. Seizure outcomes after brain surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) are heterogeneous and difficult to predict using models that evaluate current clinical, imaging, and electrophysiological variables. This study aimed to investigate possible correlations between genetic mutations and antiseizure resistance using whole-exome sequencing.

Methods

Tumor samples from a medical biobank were subjected to whole-exome sequencing, and the contribution of 64 genes from a previous report was analyzed.

Results

Fifteen patients had DRE. Compared to the patients who showed drug responsiveness, patients in the DRE group exhibited mutations in glutamate receptor genes (GRIA1, GRIK5, GRIN2B, or GRIN2C), ATRX, and the glutamate-S-transferase gene. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of mutations in BRAF, Olig2, Ki-67, IDH, PIK3CA, p53, GRM, or BCL2A.

Discussion

These findings suggest that somatic gene mutations are closely linked to DRE. Identifying the molecular basis of antiseizure drug resistance is crucial for improving the management of DRE.

Second-Line Medications for Women Aged 10 to 50 Years With Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Importance

Women with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) face challenges in treatment due to limited options that are both effective and safe.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of substitution monotherapy vs add-on therapy as second-line options for women who might become pregnant with IGE after failure of first-line antiseizure medications (ASMs) other than valproic acid.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Multicenter retrospective comparative effectiveness cohort study at 18 primary, secondary, and tertiary adult and children epilepsy centers across 4 countries, analyzing data from 1995 to 2023. Participants were women aged 10 to 50 years diagnosed with IGE who were prescribed a second line of ASM.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Treatment failure (TF), defined as the replacement or addition of a second ASM due to ineffectiveness, was compared between patients receiving ASM add-on or substitution monotherapy using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression. Exploratory analyses were also conducted to assess the effectiveness of individual ASMs and various ASM combinations.

Results

This study included 249 women with a median (IQR) age of 18.0 (15.5-22.0) years. Among them, 146 (58.6%) received an add-on regimen, and 103 (41.4%) received substitution monotherapy. During follow-up, TF occurred in 48 patients (32.9%) receiving add-on therapy and 36 (35.0%) using substitution monotherapy, with no significant differences between groups (IPTW-adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.53-1.51; P = .69). ASM discontinuation due to ineffectiveness or adverse effects occurred in 36 patients (24.7%) receiving add-on therapy and 29 (28.2%) receiving substitution monotherapy, showing no significant differences (IPTW-adjusted HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.57-1.65; P = .92). Rates of ASM discontinuation due to adverse effects only were low in both groups, occurring in 13 patients (9.0%) receiving add-on therapy and 9 (8.7%) receiving a substitution monotherapy. Among add-on regimens other than valproic acid, the combination of levetiracetam and lamotrigine demonstrated a lower risk of TF compared with other combinations with levetiracetam plus other ASM (adjusted HR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.12-5.17; P = .02) and lamotrigine plus other ASM (adjusted HR, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.73-9.39; P = .001). However, valproic acid remained the most effective second-line ASM when considering individual agents.

Conclusions and relevance

In this comparative effectiveness study of second-line treatment strategies for women with IGE, no significant differences were observed between substitution monotherapy and add-on therapy.

Cenobamate modulates EEG cortical activity and connectivity in individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy: a pharmaco-EEG study

Objective

Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) metrics are demonstrated to correlate with and predict clinical response in individuals with epilepsy. Cenobamate is an effective anti-seizure medication recently approved as an add-on therapy for individuals with epilepsy, but its effects on qEEG are unknown. We aimed to evaluate the modulation of qEEG metrics induced by cenobamate and its relationship with clinical response.

Methods

We performed a prospective study with a cohort of 18 individuals with epilepsy (8 women, 47 ± 16 years old) and 25 healthy subjects (HS). They underwent a 19-channel EEG before and 6 months after cenobamate administration. Power spectral density (PSD) and phase locking value (PLV) for delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands were calculated. Correlation analysis and analysis of covariance exhibited significant cenobamate-induced changes in qEEG and their relationship with seizure frequency changes. A regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association with clinical responders.

Results

A total of 11 out of 16 individuals with epilepsy (69%, with 2 dropping out) were cenobamate responders (≥50% seizure frequency reduction). Cenobamate did not modify any PSD parameter but induced significant changes in PLV levels (p < 0.01). A decrease in PLV correlated with seizure reduction (p < 0.03). Regression analysis showed a strong association between PLV modulation and cenobamate responsiveness (a sensitivity of 0.75, a specificity of 0.84, and an accuracy of 0.81).

Conclusion

Cenobamate induces an EEG connectivity modulation that is highly associated with cenobamate clinical response.

Significance

Connectivity analysis of pharmaco-EEG can provide new hints toward the development of innovative biomarkers and precision medicine in individuals with epilepsy.

KAN-EEG: towards replacing backbone-MLP for an effective seizure detection system

The landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) research is witnessing a transformative shift with the emergence of the Kolmogorov-Arnold network (KAN), presenting a novel architectural paradigm aimed to redefine the structural foundations of AI models, which are based on multilayer perceptron (MLP). Through rigorous experimentation and evaluation, we introduce the KAN-electroencephalogram (EEG) model, a tailored design for efficient seizure detection. Our proposed network is tested and successfully generalized on three different datasets, one from the USA, one from Europe, and one from Oceania, recorded with different front-end hardware. All datasets are scalp EEG in adults and are from patients living with epilepsy. Our empirical findings reveal that while both architectures demonstrate commendable performance in seizure detection, the KAN model exhibits high-level out-of-sample generalization across datasets from diverse geographical regions, underscoring its inherent efficacy and adaptability at the backbone level. Furthermore, we demonstrate the resilience of the KAN architecture to model size reduction and shallow network configurations, highlighting its versatility and efficiency by preventing over-fitting in-sample datasets. This study advances our understanding of innovative neural network architectures and underscores the pioneering potential of KANs in critical domains such as medical diagnostics.

Cenobamate efficacy in specific populations

Most people with epilepsy are able to achieve good seizure control with currently available medications. However, despite the development of more than 20 new antiseizure medications (ASMs) over the past 30 years, approximately one third of patients (both pediatric and adult) are treatment-resistant and at risk of increased morbidity and mortality, including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The management of epilepsy in these populations can be complex. Metabolic differences in older people and pediatric patients can alter drug metabolism, increasing the risk of adverse drug effects. Comorbid conditions, potential or existing polypharmacy, and age-related physiological changes need to be considered when treating these patients. Rare developmental epileptic encephalopathies such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome are typically diagnosed in childhood and have proven to be refractory to treatment and to have high mortality rates. Here, we provide an overview of ASM use in patients with refractory epilepsy, in older patients, and in pediatric patients, with a focus on the efficacy outcomes, safety, and tolerability observed with a newer ASM, cenobamate.

Deep brain stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus reduces the risk for status epilepticus in focal drug-resistant epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) is a third-line treatment option for patients with refractory focal epilepsy. However, the effect on recurrent episodes of status epilepticus (SE) after ANT-DBS implantation has not been systematically investigated. Here, we set out to determine whether ANT-DBS has a preventive clinical effect on the risk of SE in difficult-to-treat epilepsies.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective, monocentric analysis in a cohort of patients with refractory epilepsy who received bilateral DBS implantation in the ANT (n = 24). Medical records were reviewed to compare the total number of SE in each patient before and after surgery.

RESULTS

Out of 24 patients, 11 (46 %) had 20 episodes of SE preoperatively, 17 of which were unprovoked. Postoperatively, only 2 patients developed SE, one of which was provoked. The relative annual risk of SE in this cohort was reduced from 28.8 % (per patient year) preoperatively to 1.9 % postoperatively, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in SE incidence with ANT-DBS (p < 0.005). Survival analysis confirmed significantly longer status-free survival postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

ANT-DBS may be beneficial as a preventive intervention in patients with refractory epilepsy at high risk for recurrent SE.

Developmental outcome in infancy after epilepsy surgery and its associated factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of epilepsy surgery on the developmental outcome in infancy with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and its associated factors.

METHOD

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in adherence with PRISMA 2020. Literature searching was done using PubMed, CENTRAL, and Scopus database. The risk of bias within included studies was evaluated using ROBINS-I. The developmental outcome was explored by comparing the developmental quotient (DQ) between before and after the epilepsy surgery. The subgroup analysis was planned for sex, etiology, affected side, affected lobe, surgical method and intention, and seizure-free state after the surgery. Age at onset of epilepsy, age at surgery, duration of disease, and follow-up time were explored as well in meta-regression.

RESULT

Ten articles were included in this review yielded 361 participants. The overall meta-analysis did not show a significant change of DQ after the surgery (MD -2.38; 95%CI -5.53 - 0.78). The comparison of delta DQ between seizure-free and not seizure-free population was not significantly different (seizure-free group; MD -4.33; 95%CI -20.37 - 11.70 vs. non-seizure-free group; MD -4.34; 95%CI -16.22 - 7.54). No independent significant moderator was identified.

CONCLUSION

Epilepsy surgery may offer some benefits in infants with PRE despite most participants having stable developmental progress. Seizure-free state following epilepsy surgery is crucial for infants' development; however, not all epileptogenic lesions are located in the favourable and resectable area. Hence, seizure control with palliative surgery shall be offered.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of epilepsy patients toward epilepsy surgery at Jordan University hospital

INTRODUCTION

Epilepsy is a condition associated with stigma and considerable morbidity, placing a significant burden on patients and their families. It is fundamental to be mindful of the fact that a substantial number of patients remain unaware of the effective surgical procedures that have shown great success in many cases, drawing upon the global underutilization of epilepsy surgery (ES). In this study, we explore the knowledge and attitudes of epilepsy patients towards ES at Jordan University Hospital (JUH).

AIM

This study aims to evaluate epilepsy patients' attitudes and knowledge regarding ES at JUH, identify the variables affecting their attitudes, and compare the results with other Middle Eastern and Western reports.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, conducted between the 1st of March and the 1st of September 2023, we gathered and analyzed data from epilepsy patients in the neurology clinic at JUH. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized, with questions emphasizing patients' demographics, disease status, and their knowledge and attitude toward ES. In order to determine the predictors of attitude, logistic regression was performed on the univariate analysis using the SPSS software.

RESULTS

This study included 145 participants, most of them within the 17 and 29 age group, and a mean age at first seizure of 21.6 years. Our sample included more generalized than focal epilepsy patients, with an additional 30 % of patients being unaware of their specific seizure type. 46 % of patients were on at least 2 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), especially among the focal epilepsy group and 61 % were non-adherent to their medications. Eighty-two participants (57 %) were aware of ES, yet only twenty-five have shown a high level of understanding. The majority of patients (77 %) have expressed a positive attitude towards ES. Although patients' attitude was significantly associated with their first impression towards ES, age, age at first seizure and not possessing a driving license, the regression model did not reveal significant predictors. Despite the perception of 94 % of the patients that ES has a moderate to high risk, this did not have any significant influence on their final attitude. Furthermore, our results concluded that income, insurance type, educational level, frequency of seizures, and poor academic outcome played no significant role in patients' final attitude towards ES.

CONCLUSION

ES is no longer considered an "experimental" or "last resort" treatment option. The results emphasize the importance of adapting educational interventions to improve knowledge and understanding of ES and implement measures to surgically pre-evaluate potential candidates. Further research should be done to overcome and address this gap in underutilization. In our study, we conclude that this gap is still present especially in people who are in need and may potentially be candidates for ES, but with the displayed positive attitude in the majority of our patients we are optimistic that the remaining barriers can be overcome, and that the results obtained from our study will be helpful for positive advancements in patients' quality of life.

Tremor as an intrinsic feature of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

We aim to understand whether tremor may be an intrinsic feature of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and whether individuals with JME plus tremor experience a different disease course. Thirty-one individuals with JME plus tremor (17 females, mean age = 33.9 ± 13.8 years) and 30 age of onset- and gender-matched subjects with JME (21 females, mean age = 26.8 ± 11.2 years) prospectively underwent clinical and neurophysiologic assessment, including tremor assessment and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). All JME plus tremor subjects experienced postural and action tremor affecting bilateral upper limbs. Nine of 31 individuals (29%) with tremor were never exposed to valproate (VPA), and 14 of 31 (45.2%) were not using VPA at the time of clinical evaluation. Twelve of 31 (38.7%) patients with JME plus tremor were drug-resistant compared to four of 30 (13.3%) with JME (p = .024). The JME plus tremor subjects had higher numbers of previous childhood absence epilepsy (n = 6/31 [19.4%]), interictal epileptiform discharges (n = 30/31 [96.8%]), photosensitivity (n = 8/31 [25.8%]), and psychiatric comorbidities (n = 12/31 [38.7%]). Six of 31 (19.4%) individuals with JME plus tremor had giant SEPs (1/30, 3.3% with JME; p = .05, chi-squared test). The clinical features and decreased sensorimotor inhibition in the JME plus tremor group suggest that tremor might be a marker of disease severity rather than an epiphenomenon of VPA exposure.

Associations Between Testing and Treatment Pathways in a Case of Pediatric Nonlesional Epilepsy: A Census Survey of NAEC Center Directors

ObjectiveEpilepsy surgery is vital in managing of children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Noninvasive and invasive testing modalities allow for evaluation and treatment of children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Evidence-based algorithms for this process do not exist. This study examines expert response to a vignette of pediatric nonlesional epilepsy to assess associations in evaluation and treatment choices.MethodsWe analyzed annual report data and an epilepsy practice survey reported in 2020 from 135 pediatric epilepsy center directors in the United States. Characteristics of centers along with noninvasive and invasive testing and surgical treatment strategies were collected. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was performed.ResultsThe response rate was 100% with 135 responses included in the analyses. Most used noninvasive testing modalities included Neuropsychology evaluation (90%), interictal brain fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (85%), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (72%) with nearly half obtaining genetic testing. Choosing functional MRI was associated with stereo electroencephalography (EEG) (P = .025) and selecting Wada with subdural grid/strips (P = .038). Directors from pediatric-only centers were more likely to choose stereo EEG as opposed to combined centers (P = .042). Laser interstitial thermal therapy was almost 7 times as likely to be chosen as a treatment modality compared with open resection in dedicated pediatric centers (OR 6.96, P = .002).SignificanceIn a vignette of nonlesional childhood drug-resistant epilepsy, epilepsy center directors' patterns of noninvasive testing, invasive testing, and treatment were examined. Management choices were associated with pediatric versus combined pediatric/adult center characteristics. Expert opinions demonstrated equipoise in evaluation and management of children with drug-resistant epilepsy and the need for evidence-based management strategies.

Impact of valproate therapy on timing of puberty in adolescents with childhood-onset epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Data regarding the timing of puberty in adolescents with childhood-onset epilepsy is scarce. This study aimed to explore whether pre-pubertal valproate intake negatively affects the timing of puberty.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, adolescents with childhood-onset epilepsy were asked to report when they attained Tanner 2 thelarche and gonadarche, respectively, using a Tanner self-staging score. Girls aged 13-18 years and boys aged 14-18 years -the ages at which the definition of delayed puberty can be applied- were included. Data regarding the pre-pubertal period were recorded, including seizure frequency/month, longest seizure-free interval, valproate intake, and duration.

RESULTS

Eighty-one PWE (48 boys and 33 girls) were included. Forty-nine patients received valproate during the pre-pubertal period. Only 18 patients (22.2 %) had delayed onset puberty (4 girls and 14 boys). Delayed menarche was identified in 7 girls. Patients with delayed onset puberty had significantly younger age at epilepsy onset and shorter pre-pubertal longest seizure-free interval than patients with normal onset (P = 0.01, for each). Furthermore, the percentage of patients who received pre-pubertal valproate was significantly higher in patients with delayed puberty (94.4 %) than in patients with normal onset puberty (50.7 %), with significantly longer treatment duration in the former group (P = 0.0006). Duration of pre-pubertal valproate intake was an independent predictor for delayed onset puberty (OR=1.36, 95 %CI =1.14-1.62) while female sex had a protective effect (OR=0.21, 95 %CI =0.04-0.92).

CONCLUSION

Pre-pubertal valproate intake might delay pubertal onset in both sexes with epilepsy. Serial assessment to track pubertal development across the adolescence period is highly needed.

Clinical features and outcomes of late-onset epilepsy of unknown etiology: A retrospective study in West China

PURPOSE

Late-onset epilepsy (LOE) usually refers to the development of epilepsy at the age of 50 years or older. Approximately 20 % of LOE cases are diagnosed as late-onset epilepsy of unknown etiology (LOUE) due to a lack of an identifiable cause. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features, seizure and cognitive outcomes of patients with LOUE in West China.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with LOUE at West China Hospital between January 2015 and December 2022 were retrospectively recruited. The seizure and cognitive outcome were followed up for at least 1 year after discharge. Logistic regression models were applied to investigate the risk factors of recurrent seizure and cognitive impairment in patients with LOUE.

RESULTS

We included 286 LOUE patients with a median seizure onset age of 59 years. The most common seizure types were focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure (61.9 %) and focal non-motor seizure (37.0 %). Two-hundred and seventy-seven (96.9 %) patients underwent video electroencephalography (VEEG), with seizures recorded in 11.9 % of patients and interictal epileptiform discharges in 58.2 % cases. Majority of the patients (73.4 %) received monotherapy, with levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine and valproate being the most commonly prescribed anti-seizure medications. During the follow-up, 69.1 % of patients achieved seizure-free. Multivariate analysis identified ictal event recorded during VEEG monitoring (OR:0.205, 95 % CI: 0.045-0.932, p = 0.040) and memory impairment (OR:2. 470, 95 % CI: 1.181-5.167, p = 0.016) as significant factors associated with recurrent seizure. Twenty-two patients were classified as cognitive impairment. The onset age (OR:1.095, 95 % CI:1.032-1.162, p = 0.003) and total Fazekas score (OR = 6.770, 95 % CI:1.972-23.241, p = 0.002) were significant risk factors associated with cognitive dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

LOUE is generally a benign form of epilepsy with a high percentage of patients achieving seizure-free status. However, these patients are at a higher risk of memory decline and cognitive dysfunction.

Yield in routine electroencephalography in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy at a third-level epilepsy center in South Korea

PURPOSE

In people with epilepsy (PWE), the yield of interictal epileptiform discharges in electroencephalography (EEG) is an important determinant of good clinical practice. This study sought to investigate routine EEGs in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy at a third-level epilepsy center in South Korea and assess the factors affecting yield.

METHODS

Electronic medical records and 2,584 EEGs from 339 PWE were retrospectively reviewed from July to December 2023. Overall and cumulative yields, yield-increasing predictive factors, routine EEG natural sleep state, and yield changes before and after medical treatment were investigated.

RESULTS

For the first EEG, the yield was 31.6 %, while the initial two and three consecutive EEGs had cumulative yields of 44.0 % and 49.6 %, respectively. Yield-increasing predictive factors included age ≤16 years at seizure onset, idiopathic generalized epilepsy, gender (female), and drug-resistant epilepsy. Of the PWE, approximately 90 % experienced natural sleep during routine EEG recordings, and the duration of sleep stage N2 was proven to be a yield-increasing predictive factor. Yield change before and after medical treatment was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

At our center, among adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy, the yield from initial EEGs was comparable to that reported by some previous studies. Our results suggest that for epilepsy diagnosis, if necessary, repeated EEGs should be performed with sleep EEG before starting medical treatment for cost-effectiveness. After medical treatment, care should be taken not to underestimate the likelihood of false negatives in the EEG.

A new perspective on drug-resistant epilepsy in children with focal cortical dysplasia type 1: From challenge to favorable outcome

OBJECTIVE

We comprehensively characterized a large pediatric cohort with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type 1 to expand the phenotypic spectrum and to identify predictors of postsurgical outcomes.

METHODS

We included pediatric patients with histopathological diagnosis of isolated FCD type 1 and at least 1 year of postsurgical follow-up. We systematically reanalyzed clinical, electrophysiological, and radiological features. The results of this reanalysis served as independent variables for subsequent statistical analyses of outcome predictors.

RESULTS

All children (N = 31) had drug-resistant epilepsy with varying impacts on neurodevelopment and cognition (presurgical intelligence quotient [IQ]/developmental quotient scores = 32-106). Low presurgical IQ was associated with abnormal slow background electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and disrupted sleep architecture. Scalp EEG showed predominantly multiregional and often bilateral epileptiform activity. Advanced epilepsy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols identified FCD-specific features in 74.2% of patients (23/31), 17 of whom were initially evaluated as MRI-negative. In six of eight MRI-negative cases, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET) and subtraction ictal single photon emission computed tomography coregistered to MRI helped localize the dysplastic cortex. Sixteen patients (51.6%) underwent invasive EEG. By the last follow-up (median = 5 years, interquartile range = 3.3-9 years), seizure freedom was achieved in 71% of patients (22/31), including seven of eight MRI-negative patients. Antiseizure medications were reduced in 21 patients, with complete withdrawal in six. Seizure outcome was predicted by a combination of the following descriptors: age at epilepsy onset, epilepsy duration, long-term invasive EEG, and specific MRI and PET findings.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study highlights the broad phenotypic spectrum of FCD type 1, which spans far beyond the narrow descriptions of previous studies. The applied multilayered presurgical approach helped localize the epileptogenic zone in many previously nonlesional cases, resulting in improved postsurgical seizure outcomes, which are more favorable than previously reported for FCD type 1 patients.

Incidence and independently associated variables of acute postoperative seizures after epilepsy surgery

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and independently associated variables of acute postoperative seizures (APOS) occurring in the first postoperative week after resective epilepsy surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from consecutive patients who underwent resective epilepsy surgery in a tertiary hospital. The clinical characteristics of patients with and without APOS were compared, and binary logistic regression was used to identify the independently associated variables of APOS.

RESULTS

Of the 1269 epilepsy surgeries (1261 patients) included in this analysis, 10.6 % (134/1269) resulted in APOS. Univariate analysis showed that sex, age at surgery, epilepsy duration, seizure frequency, number of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) at the time of surgery, drug resistant epilepsy (DRE); previous surgery, interictal EEG, intracranial monitoring, surgical extent, and complications were associated with APOS. When surgery was limited to a single brain lobe, frontal and parietal lobe surgery were more likely to result in APOS than temporal lobe surgery (11.7 %, 17.2 % vs. 7.5 %, p = 0.033, 0.008, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an epilepsy duration of ≥3.75 years (OR 1.789 95 % CI 1.128-2.837 p = 0.013), using ≥3 types of ASMs at the time of surgery (OR 1.649 95 % CI 1.025-2.652 p = 0.039), and complications (OR 1.761 95 % CI 1.179-2.628 p = 0.006) were the independently associated variables of APOS. Postoperative seizure outcome at last follow-up was significantly worse in patients with APOS than in those without (Engel class Ⅰ: 41.1 % vs. 70.4 % p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall incidence of APOS in our cohort was moderate. Surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy was less likely to result in APOS. Early surgery, use of fewer ASMs, and control of complications were independently associated with a lower incidence of APOS.

The clinical profile of adult-onset idiopathic generalised epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Idiopathic generalised epilepsies (IGE) tend to begin in childhood or adolescence, whereas adult-onset presentations are less frequently observed. In this study, we describe the disease course of a cohort of patients with adult-onset IGE.

METHODS

In this retrospective observational study, we evaluated clinical features, seizure outcomes, and antiseizure medication (ASM) prescribing trends in a cohort of IGE patients with seizure onset aged 18 years or older.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 425 IGE patients, we identified 55 with adult-onset IGE (12.9 %). Forty-nine patients (89.1 %) experienced seizure onset between ages 18 and 30 years, while the remaining six patients (10.9 %) had onset after the age of 30 years. Eleven patients were initially diagnosed with focal epilepsy (20 %). Most patients (98.2 %) initially presented with generalised tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS). Epilepsy with generalised tonic-clonic seizures alone (GTCA) was the most common syndrome (65.4 %). Thirty-five patients (63.6 %) were treated with ASM monotherapy, 17 (30.9 %) with polytherapy, and three (5.4 %) were not taking any ASM. Lamotrigine, levetiracetam (38.2 %), and valproate (27.3 %) were the most prescribed ASMs. At last clinical review, 40 patients (72.7 %) were seizure-free (no seizures for ≥12 months), including those with absence seizures and myoclonic seizures, and 46 were free of GTCS for a mean duration of 6.2 years (range 1-21 years). Eight patients (14.5 %) had drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Eight patients attempted ASM withdrawal, with seizure recurrence occurring in six (75 %), with the period off ASM ranging from one week to 26 years.

SIGNIFICANCE

IGE should be considered as a possible diagnosis in people who first present with convulsive seizures in adulthood, particularly those aged between 18 and 30 years with normal neuroimaging. Adult-onset IGE has a good prognosis overall, with most people becoming seizure-free, although the risk of seizure recurrence appears to be high after ASM withdrawal. A minority develop DRE and require polytherapy with ≥2 ASMs.

Time to evaluation and characteristics of patients evaluated at epilepsy centers within an integrated health care delivery system

OBJECTIVE

Rapid patient referral to epilepsy centers may facilitate subsequent disease-modifying surgical and non-surgical treatments. Delays of 15-18 years have been reported from time of epilepsy diagnosis to surgical evaluation in some settings, though patterns for timely guideline-concordant referrals within integrated care models are not well known and could inform strategies for optimizing guideline-concordant access.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1088 patients undergoing epilepsy center evaluation from January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2023 in a Northern California integrated healthcare delivery system (IDS) with a Level 4 Epilepsy Center. Using electronic health record (EHR) data, we summarized time from diagnosis and other major care time points until first visit at the epilepsy center. A multivariate linear model was used to evaluate the relationship of select demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics with the time to first epilepsy center visit.

RESULTS

The mean times to epilepsy center visit from first prescription of an anti-seizure medication (ASM), diagnosis of epilepsy or seizures, and first visit with a general neurologist, were 3.9 years (SD = 4.5), 3.2 years (SD = 3.2) and 2.7 years (SD = 3.2), respectively, for the full cohort of patients prescribed any number of ASMs. Comparable time frames were seen for patients prescribed two or more ASMs at the time of first visit. Significantly longer time to epilepsy center visit was seen in patients with multiple ASMs prescribed, a concordant diagnosis of developmental delay, and those age 40 and above. Longer times to epilepsy center visit were not seen among patients with psychiatric comorbidities, public health insurance coverage, and among patients in traditionally underserved groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients evaluated at an epilepsy clinic within an IDS system did so within less than four years of diagnosis and initial treatment, with few disparities by demographics or comorbidities. Future studies can identify specific health system features that are key to shorter time frames to test transferable strategies to reduce time to epilepsy centers.

Machine learning-based algorithm of drug-resistant prediction in newly diagnosed patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVES

To develop a predicted algorithm for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in newly diagnosed temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients.

METHODS

A total of 139 newly diagnosed TLE patients were prospectively enrolled, and long-term video EEG monitoring was recorded. Clinical evaluations, including seizure frequency and antiseizure medications (ASMs) usage, were collected and prospectively followed up for 24 months. Interictal EEG data were used for feature extraction, identifying 216 EEG network features. Traditional machine learning and ensemble learning techniques were employed to predict DRE outcomes.

RESULTS

Over two years, TLE patients with DRE exhibited significant EEG differences, particularly in frontotemporal θ-band networks, characterized by increased connectivity metrics such as phase lag index (P = 0.000), etc. The predictive algorithm based on EEG features achieved accuracies between 59.2 %-84.6 % (AUC: 0.60-0.87). When compared to the whole brain, EEG features of the frontotemporal network showed improved classification performance in Naïve Bayes (P = 0.032), Tree Bagger (P = 0.021), and Subspace Discriminant (P = 0.022) models. The ensemble learning technique (Tree Bagger) delivered the best prediction results, achieving 91.5 % accuracy, 97 % sensitivity, 81 % specificity, and AUC of 0.92.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased frontotemporal EEG connectivity was observed in TLE patients with 2-year DRE. A predictive model based on routine EEG provides an accessible method for forecasting ASMs efficacy.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study highlights the clinical utility of EEG-based algorithms in identifying DRE early, aiding personalized treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Seizure freedom and reducing the risk of sudden unexpected death in patients with focal epilepsy treated with cenobamate or other antiseizure medications

People with epilepsy who have uncontrolled seizures are at increased risk of all-cause mortality, injuries, comorbidities, mood and psychosocial disorders, and diminished quality of life. For those with focal epilepsy, focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS) pose the greatest risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a leading cause of premature mortality in people with epilepsy. Cenobamate is a third-generation antiseizure medication with demonstrated efficacy in controlling focal seizures, including FBTCS, in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. Treatment with cenobamate in clinical trials was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality to a rate statistically indistinguishable from that seen in the general population, and SUDEP rates were lower than expected. As FBTCS are associated with the highest risk of death, prevention of this seizure type is especially important, and physicians should continue to try new therapies to prevent these seizures. A shared decision-making model should be used when interacting with patients and their care providers to achieve and maintain seizure control and maximize treatment outcomes.

Changes in anxiety after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is often accompanied by psychiatric manifestations, of which, anxiety is among the most common. While the effects of surgery or ablation on TLE and seizure outcomes, as well as neuropsychological outcomes, have been well studied, anxiety is an exception and has not been systematically examined. Our study aims to systematically review the changes in anxiety before and after TLE surgery.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed the existing literature on anxiety in the setting of TLE. Different electronic databases were queried for studies published until 3rd June 2024.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies with 1403 patients who had refractory TLE and underwent surgical treatment were included. Eight different anxiety scales were used in the included studies, with baseline anxiety rates of 5.3 % to 35.1 %. A significant reduction in anxiety was observed in studies using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, with a pooled change of -0.87 (95 % CI: -1.26, -0.48, P < 0.001) after surgery. Conversely, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores did not show significant changes, with pooled changes of -0.30 (95 % CI: -1.72, 1.12, P = 0.68) for the State (STAI-S) and 0.10 (95 % CI: -1.56, 1.77, P = 0.90) for Trait (STAI-T) anxiety types. Similarly, significant improvements in anxiety were observed on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, with a pooled change of -0.87 (95 % CI: -1.62, -0.12, P = 0.02) at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that TLE surgery leads to a significant reduction in anxiety levels, though evidence regarding subgroup differences, such as seizure-free versus non-seizure-free patients, remains limited due to the small number of studies. Additional research is necessary to clarify these findings and further assess the broader effects of surgery on anxiety.

Epilepsy medication management: Addressing common treatment barriers to adopting cenobamate and other new antiseizure medications

Seizure freedom is an important therapeutic goal for people with epilepsy and is associated with improved quality of life and reduced morbidity and mortality. Yet despite the use of multiple antiseizure medications (ASMs; either as monotherapy or in combination), seizures persist in approximately one third of patients. Third-generation ASMs, such as lacosamide, eslicarbazepine, perampanel, and brivaracetam, have demonstrated good efficacy in terms of reductions in the frequency of focal seizures. The newest ASM, cenobamate, which is indicated for the treatment of focal seizures in adults, has demonstrated notable rates of seizure freedom for some patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. In long-term, open-label clinical studies of adjunctive cenobamate, between 18.4% and 36.3% of patients achieved seizure freedom for a consecutive ≥12-month duration, and 1-year retention rates ranged from 73% to 83%. This article reviews some of the potential treatment barriers encountered during the medication management of patients with epilepsy that may impede the use and optimization of newer ASMs like cenobamate. These include treatment complacency, inadequate trial of new adjunctive therapies ("last in, first out"), pitfalls of rational polytherapy, and restricting the use of newer drugs. Although treatment must always be tailored to the specific patient, clinicians should consider the potential benefits of newer therapies and continue to reassess and optimize ASM treatment to achieve the best outcomes for their patients.

Adverse events of dual anti-seizure medication: Real-life data from a tertiary epilepsy clinic

OBJECTIVE

In patients with epilepsy, adverse events (AE) of anti-seizure medication (ASM) may lead to unfavorable quality of life and non-adherence to treatment. This retrospective study aimed to identify risk factors for overall AE burden and specific AE in patients with dual ASM therapy.

METHODS

All patients aged at least 18 years from a tertiary epilepsy outpatient clinic routinely complete the 19-item Liverpool Adverse Events Profile (LAEP). Demographic, epilepsy, and treatment variables were extracted from our outpatient database. Variables of clinical relevance were entered into a binary logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Out of 2,106 patients, dual ASM was applied to 595 patients with 98 different combinations. We focused on the five most frequent ASM combinations; levetiracetam and lamotrigine (LEV/LTG, n=108), lacosamide and levetiracetam (LCM/LEV, n=53), lamotrigine and valproic acid (LTG/VPA, n=50), levetiracetam and valproic acid (LEV/VPA, n=27), and eslicarbazepine acetate and levetiracetam (ESL/LEV, n=22). Commonly reported specific AE were sleepiness (62 %), difficulty concentrating (55 %), memory problems (53 %), tiredness (46 %), and disturbed sleep (40 %). Relevant AE burden (LAEP score ≥45) was independently associated with female sex, LEV/VPA- and LTG/VPA-dual therapy, drug resistance, as well as focal and unclassified epilepsy. Distinct AE were associated mainly with female sex (6/19 AE), focal (5/19 AE), unclassified (7/19 AE) epilepsy, and drug resistance (4/10 AE). Concerning specific AE combination, only LTG/VPA was independently associated with hair loss (OR 6.766).

SIGNIFICANCE

After controlling for potential confounders, our study found that the two ASM combinations involving valproic acid were significantly associated with higher LAEP scores, indicating poorer tolerability. Specific adverse events, such as hair loss, were independently associated with the LTG/VPA combination. Cognitive side effects were notably prominent across all five dual ASM combinations. While dual ASM therapy is associated with an increased burden of AE, this increase appears to be moderate when therapies are individually tailored. Increased awareness and systematic screening of AE, particularly cognitive side effects, are essential to optimize treatment outcomes.

Seizure freedom and therapy discontinuation in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy: retrospective cohort study from a tertiary epilepsy outpatient service

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) affects young individuals and is typically successfully managed with anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Discontinuing therapy in IGE patients is a critical decision due to the risk of seizure recurrence. This study aims to identify factors influencing seizure freedom (SF) or relapse after ASM discontinuation.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients seen at our clinic between 2002 and 2024. Collected data included demographics, disease history, seizure types, ASMs used, EEG findings, outcomes related to SF and ASM withdrawal.

RESULTS

We identified 322 records, with a mean age of 30 ± 12.4 years and an age at onset of 16 ± 5.9 years. On average, patients tried 1.9 ASMs, 23% on polytherapy. The main seizure types were generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) in 53.1%, myoclonic seizures in 31.7%, absences in 15.2%. SF was achieved by 76.6%. Patients with GTCS as main seizure type or presenting with GTCS in the first year of disease experienced a delayed achievement of SF. ASM discontinuation was attempted in 64 patients. Predictors of relapse after discontinuation were myoclonic and generalized seizures as principal seizure type and higher seizure frequency. Early SF and lower seizure frequency were associated with successful discontinuation. EEG predictors of discontinuation failure included worsening during treatment tapering and specific abnormalities, such as spike waves, photosensitivity, and hyperpnoea sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides long-term follow-up data on IGE patients, highlighting key predictors of seizure control, including GTCS or myoclonic seizures and a rapid initial ASM response. EEG emerges as a valuable tool for the longitudinal monitoring of patients undergoing ASM discontinuation.

Enlarged perivascular space in the temporal lobe as a prognostic marker in temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to investigate the regional burden of enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVSs) in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS) and explore its prognostic relevance.

METHODS

In this retrospective observational study, EPVSs in the temporal lobe (T-EPVS), centrum semiovale (CS-EPVS), basal ganglia (BG-EPVS), midbrain, and hippocampus were visually rated in 68 treatment-naïve patients with TLE-HS. Regional EPVS burden was dichotomized into high and low degrees (cutoff: >10 for BG-EPVS/T-EPVS; >20 for CS-EPVS). Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the potential predictors of seizure freedom (SF; no seizure for >1 year) and delayed SF (SF achieved >6 months after initiating antiseizure medication [ASM]). Multivariate logistic regression using stepwise variable selection based on the Akaike information criterion was performed to investigate whether EPVS burden was associated with medical refractoriness (never achieving SF).

RESULTS

Of the 68 patients, 20 were classified into the refractory group (29.4%). The high T-EPVS group had an older epilepsy onset (37.3 ± 12.3 vs. 26.5 ± 13.0 years, p = .005), higher pretreatment seizure density (median = 12.0, interquartile range [IQR] = 5.0-20.0 vs. 4.0, IQR = 2.0-10.5, p = .008), and lower focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure prevalence (13.3% vs. 73.6%, p < .001) than the low T-EPVS group. High T-EPVS burden (odds ratio [OR] = 10.908, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.895-62.789) was an independent predictor of medial refractoriness, along with female sex (OR = 12.906, 95% CI = 2.214-75.220) and ASM treatment duration (OR = .985, 95% CI = .971-.999). The low T-EPVS group had higher probability of achieving delayed SF than the high T-EPVS group (pLog-rank = .030, pCox regression = .038), whereas the probability of achieving SF was comparable between the two groups (pLog-rank = .053, pCox regression = .146).

SIGNIFICANCE

Increased T-EPVS burden may serve as an imaging marker of unfavorable prognosis in patients with TLE-HS, underscoring the potential role of perivascular dysfunction in diminished ASM response.

Development of an Educational Curriculum for Implanting and Managing Vagus Nerve Stimulators for Epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) devices are commonly used for extracranial neuromodulation of drug-resistant epilepsy. These devices are implanted by multiple surgical subspecialties and managed by practitioners with varying levels of epilepsy-specific expertise. The North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) education committee presents a curriculum defining level-dependent recommendations within the six-core competency rubric for the implantation and management of VNS devices.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A multidisciplinary (anesthesiology, neurology, neurosurgery, and physiatrists) and diverse (advanced practice providers, physicians, and surgeons) subcommittee of the NANS education committee met virtually over a year to develop a curriculum following the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies. The subcommittee used a consensus approach, evidence-based development strategy; once completed, the VNS curriculum was approved by the NANS board.

RESULTS

The subcommittee developed a VNS curriculum as a standard to be used for implanting surgeons, managing physicians, and advanced practice providers. The vertical orientation of the curriculum uses the ACGME educational core competencies framework; within this paradigm is a horizontal progression of skills with distinct competency groups for implanting surgeons and/or managing physicians. The horizontal progression defines the expected competence for early learner, advanced learner, and independent practitioner.

CONCLUSION

A NANS education subcommittee iteratively developed a VNS curriculum for defining progressive competence of myriad care providers, including clinicians and advanced practice providers, within the ACGME six core competencies.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000288 protects against epilepsy in mice by binding to and stabilizing caprin1 protein

Current anti-epileptic drugs remain to be unsatisfactory, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Circular RNA is a promising class of therapeutic RNAs. Recent studies have shown the role of circRNA in the pathologic process of epilepsy. In this study, we identified the circRNA in epileptic patients in remission that inhibited the epileptic course. By comparing the profiles of differentially expressed circRNAs in peripheral serum between patients in remission and those not in remission, we found that the level of hsa_circ_0000288 (circ288) was markedly elevated in the epileptic patients in remission. We established a kainic acid-induced status epilepticus model in mice. Overexpression of Circ288 by injecting adeno-associated virus (AAV)-circ288-overexpression vector into hippocampi significantly ameliorated epilepsy-induced neuronal injury, promoted hippocampus neurogenesis, and inhibited abnormal migration of newborn neurons into the dentate hilus. Moreover, circ288 overexpression significantly decreased the epileptiform discharges and the spontaneous seizures in the chronic phase of epileptogenesis and alleviated mood disorders (anxiety, depression), and cognitive deficits in epileptic mice. We revealed that circ288 directly bound to an RNA-binding protein caprin1 and inhibited its degradation. The protective action of circ288 was reversed by the knockdown of caprin1 in an in vitro epileptic model and lost in the neuron-specific caprin1 knockout mice (CaMK2α-Cre:Caprin1f/f). Overexpression of circ288 or caprin1 raised the mRNA level of NMDA receptor 3B, a negative modulator of NMDA receptors, suggesting the involvement of the carpin1-NMDA receptor 3B pathway in the role of circ288. Given the disadvantages of circ288 overexpression by a virus, we constructed exosomes-encapsulated circ288 (EXO-circ288) and demonstrated that tail vein injection of EXO-circ288 exerted robust protective effects. This study provides a new avenue for developing anti-epileptic therapeutic RNAs.

Altered gut microbiome profiles in epileptic children are associated with spectrum of anti-seizure medication responsiveness

Gut microbiota plays a role in epilepsy. However, current knowledge of how gut dysbiosis is associated with a response to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) in epileptic children is still limited. We aimed to characterize the gut microbiota profiles in epileptic children based on response to ASMs. Eighty-six children aged 3-18 years old with a regular oral diet were enrolled onto the study and divided into three groups in accordance with ILAE definitions: 26 healthy controls, 31 drug-sensitive epilepsy (DSE) patients, and 29 drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients. Based on ASM responsiveness, defined as a reduction in seizure frequency of at least 75 % over one year, DRE individuals were subclassified into 13 drug responsive (DRE-DR) and 16 drug non-responsive (DRE-DNR) patients. Feces were collected at the time of enrollment for gut microbiota analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing. Epileptic patients exhibited distinctive gut dysbiotic profiles. Differential abundance investigation revealed that CAG-56 was significantly increased in epileptic patients compared to controls. Saccharimonadales and Peptoclostridium significantly increased in the DSE group, compared to the DRE group. Vibrionaceae, especially Grimontia, Rhodobacteraceae, and Enterobacter were significantly abundant in the DRE-DNR group, followed by abundance in the DRE-DR and DSE groups. Outcomes from PICRUSt2 analysis predicted that epileptic patients, especially those in the DRE group, had increased metabolic pathways responsible for vanillin and taurine degradation, compared to controls. These findings suggest that gut dysbiosis could play roles in epileptogenesis and ASM resistance. Notably, the identified gut microbes could serve as predictive biomarkers for the DRE condition.

Comprehensive predictors of drug-resistant epilepsy in MELAS: clinical, EEG, imaging, and biochemical factors

BACKGROUND

Seizures are a common but often overlooked manifestation of MELAS. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of seizures in MELAS and to analyze the clinical, electroencephalographic, imaging, and biochemical factors associated with drug-resistant epilepsy.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics of seizures in MELAS patients. The study collected data on clinical features, muscle biopsy results, genetic testing, seizure symptoms, electroencephalography (EEG), neuroimaging findings, cerebrospinal fluid and blood biochemistry, and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We also investigated the correlation between seizure frequency and mRS scores. In addition, we analyzed the risk factors for drug-resistant epilepsy in MELAS.

RESULTS

A total of 37 patients with confirmed MELAS (24 males and 13 females) were included in the study. All patients experienced seizures, with an onset age ranging from 14 to 53 years and a mean of 32 years. These MELAS patients experienced a variety of seizure types, with generalized seizures being the most common. EEG findings revealed background rhythm abnormalities in all patients, and epileptiform discharges were observed in 37.8% of patients during the interictal phase. Status epilepticus (OR 16.499; 95% CI, 1.615-168.557; P = 0.018) and elevated resting serum lactate levels (OR 8.594; 95% CI, 1.342-59.733; P = 0.024) were identified as independent risk factors for drug-resistant epilepsy. In addition, changes in the seizure frequency at the last follow-up compared to baseline were positively correlated with the mRS score. (r = 0.533, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Status epilepticus and elevated resting serum lactate levels were predictive of the development of drug-resistant epilepsy in MELAS. Poor seizure control was significantly associated with increased clinical disability. Early identification of high-risk patients for drug-resistant epilepsy could facilitate the development of more effective treatment plans.

Epilepsy Surgery Education: A Survey of US Epilepsy Fellowship Program Directors

PURPOSE

To understand the current state of epilepsy surgery education delivered to epilepsy fellows in the United States.

METHODS

An online survey focused on characteristics of epilepsy surgery education was distributed to all 93 epilepsy fellowship program directors listed on the ACGME website (accessed in May 2022). Programs were stratified per the number of fellows currently enrolled: 0 to 3 (group A) and ≥4 (group B).

RESULTS

Forty-one of 93 (44%) epilepsy fellowship programs were included in the study. The average number of resective surgeries, ablations, or corpus callosotomies per year was mostly 0 to 30 (54%) in group A and mostly >30 (80%) in group B (P = 0.05). The average number of intracranial implantations per year was mostly 0 to 20 (58%) in group A and mostly >20 (80%) in group B (P < 0.05). The average number of neurostimulation implantations per year was 15 (range 0-90; vagal nerve stimulation), 7 (range 0-25; responsive neurostimulation), and 4 (range 0-10; deep brain stimulation). In 78% of programs, fellows are not required to present a minimum number of epilepsy surgery cases in multidisciplinary conference before graduation. Roughly half of programs (51%) reported not using objective measures to assess fellow competency in epilepsy surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest significant variability in epilepsy surgery volume and, consequently, fellow exposure to surgical cases and lack of standardized, objective measures in fellow teaching and assessment in the field of epilepsy surgery across programs in the United States. We advocate development of a core epilepsy surgery curriculum including minimum standards at the national level.

Exploring physiological beta-hydroxybutyrate level in children treated with the classical ketogenic diet for drug-resistant epilepsy

BACKGROUND

The ketogenic diet (KD) therapy is a primary treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is the main ketone produced during KD. However, the pattern of increase in BHB levels is not well understood, and the reference range for BHB need to be defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the BHB levels in the first three months, especially one week, after KD initiation, and to explore the physiological reference range for BHB.

METHODS

In our study, a fasting initiation strategy was used for the majority of patients (252/300, 84%) who underwent fasting for 24-48 h, the rest fasted for at least 12 h. The concentration of blood BHB was measured four times a day during the first week, at one month and three months. Seizure frequency was recorded at one week, one month and three months. Responders were defined as those with a seizure reduction 50% or more compared to baseline. BHB levels were compared between responders and non-responders. The BHB levels of responders were used to calculate the reference range.

RESULTS

A total of 300 patients were recruited, of whom 172 (57%) had accessible BHB data. BHB levels rapidly rose to 2.0 mmol/L at 19 h, peaked at 4.2 mmol/L at 43 h of therapy, and stabilized by three months. The reference range for BHB was 1.1 to 4.9 mmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

BHB levels increased rapidly following fasting, reaching the peak at day 2, stabilizing from the end of the first week through three months. The lower reference limit for BHB to ensure KD efficacy should be set at 1.1 mmol/L.

Barriers to Medication Adherence in People Living With Epilepsy

Background and Objectives

Epilepsy affects approximately 1.2% of the US population, resulting in 3.4 million Americans with active epilepsy. Antiseizure medication (ASM) is considered the mainstay of treatment, effective for two-thirds of people with epilepsy (PWE), while at least one-third experience drug-resistant epilepsy. A significant percentage of PWE who are treated with ASMs report nonadherence to this type of medication, leading to potentially preventable seizures and the potential for being inappropriately classified as having drug-resistant epilepsy. Ongoing seizures are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs, among other consequences. Recognizing when PWE struggle with ASM adherence is essential for creating effective interventions and prevention strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Methods

As part of the Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System Registry, we collected data from 2020 through 2023 from 4,917 individuals seen at 8 epilepsy clinics in the United States. In this cross-sectional study, we used logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between patient-reported seizure control (or provider-reported seizure control for some sites) and endorsed barriers to medication adherence. In addition, we explored potential associations with demographic variables such as sex, race, and ethnicity. The data analysis was conducted using R version 2023.06.1 + 524.

Results

Overall, 18.4% (893/4,848) reported adherence barriers and 37.7% (1,447/3,834) reported seizure control, defined as no seizures for the preceding 12 months or longer. The most prevalent barriers were forgetting to take ASMs (48.2%), experiencing ASM side effects (29.2%), and feeling as if the ASMs were not helping in controlling seizures (21.3%). The PWE who reported adherence barriers had 0.6 lower odds of having seizure control compared with those who did not report barriers (95% CI 0.4-0.7) and 0.6 lower odds of having seizure control after adjusting for race, ethnicity, and sex (95% CI 0.5-0.7).

Discussion

We observed significant barriers to medication adherence and inadequate seizure control among adult PWE across 8 centers in the United States. This study suggests that PWE might benefit from standardized screening for adherence barriers with behavioral strategies to address these barriers offered during clinical encounters to personalize care.

WONOEP appraisal: Targeted therapy development for early onset epilepsies

The early onset epilepsies encompass a heterogeneous group of disorders, some of which result in drug-resistant seizures, developmental delay, psychiatric comorbidities, and sudden death. Advancement in the widespread use of targeted gene panels as well as genome and exome sequencing has facilitated the identification of different causative genes in a subset of these patients. The ability to recognize the genetic basis of early onset epilepsies continues to improve, with de novo coding variants accounting for most of the genetic etiologies identified. Although current disease-specific and disease-modifying therapies remain limited, novel precision medicine approaches, such as small molecules, cell therapy, and other forms of genetic therapies for early onset epilepsies, have created excitement among researchers, clinicians, and caregivers. Here, we summarize the main findings of presentations and discussions on novel therapeutic strategies for targeted treatment of early onset epilepsies that occurred during the Workshop on Neurobiology of Epilepsy (WONOEP XVI, Talloires, France, July 2022). The presentations discussed the use of chloride transporter inhibitors for neonatal seizures, targeting orexinergic signaling for childhood absence epilepsy, targeting energy metabolism in Dravet syndrome, and the role of cannabinoid receptor type 2, reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, cell therapies, and RNA-based therapies in early life epilepsies.

Incidence and Predictors of Later Epilepsy in Neonates with Encephalopathy: The Impact of Electrographic Seizures

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence of later epilepsy in full-term infants with neonatal encephalopathy (NE) who undergo continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) monitoring in the neonatal period and to identify potential predictors of later epilepsy both in infants with and without electrographic neonatal seizures (ENS).

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study performed at Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland, between 2003 and 2019. All term infants with NE had a minimum of 2 h of cEEG monitoring in the neonatal period. ENS were identified via cEEG monitoring. Pediatric medical charts were reviewed to determine if epilepsy developed after the neonatal period and to determine potential predictors of epilepsy in infants both with and without ENS.

RESULTS

Two hundred and eighty infants were included. The overall incidence rate of epilepsy was 17.55 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 10.91 to 28.23). In infants with ENS (n = 82), the incidence rate was 39.27 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 22.30 to 69.16). In infants without ENS (n = 198), the incidence rate was 7.54 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 3.14 to 18.12). The incidence rate was significantly higher in the ENS group compared to the non-ENS group (p-value = 0.002). Several potential predictors for the development of later epilepsy were identified including infants delivered vaginally, low Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, severe HIE diagnosis, presence of ENS, a severely abnormal EEG background and an abnormal brain MRI.

SIGNIFICANCE

Following NE, term infants are at risk of epilepsy with a significantly higher incidence rate in infants who experience ENS compared to those who did not. Close follow-up is required in both groups well into the childhood period.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

This study aimed to determine the occurrence of epilepsy in children who were monitored for seizures in the newborn period. The occurrence of epilepsy was higher in infants who experienced seizures in the newborn period compared to those who did not. Several potential predictors of later epilepsy were identified in both groups of infants (those with and without seizures in the newborn period). Both groups of infants require close follow-up in childhood.

Genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the therapeutic response of valproic acid in pediatric epileptic patients

AIMS

Considerable inter-individual variability in the efficacy of valproic acid (VPA) has been reported, with approximately 20-45% of patients failing to achieve satisfactory seizure control after VPA monotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of non-genetic and genetic factors on 12-month VPA-response in a cohort of 194 pediatric patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Trough concentrations were determined, and a panel of 48 variants located in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic gene were genotyped.

RESULTS

Aetiology was highlighted as a significant factor for the response to VPA. Specifically, patients with idiopathic epilepsy demonstrated poorer 12-month outcomes (p < 0.001). Trough VPA concentrations did not significantly affect outcomes. Marginal association was found between VPA efficacy and the following genetic variants: GABRA1 rs10068980 (p = 0.02), SLC16A1 rs7169 (p = 0.02), ABCC2 rs1885301 (p = 0.092), ACADM rs1251079 (p = 0.061) and GABRA1 rs6883877 (p = 0.085), as indicated by Fisher's exact test. A significant cumulative effect of two genetic factors (GABRA1 rs10068980 and SLC16A1 rs7169) was observed after a multiple logistic analysis, with ORs of 2.828 (1.213, 6.594) and 4.066 (1.148,14.398), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated that GABRA1 rs10068980 and SLC16A1 rs7169 might serve as potential biomarkers for predicting the 12-month VPA treatment outcomes in pediatric patients with epilepsy.

The alteration of gut microbiota composition in patients with epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is accumulating evidence suggesting a connection between epilepsy, a neurologic disease with recurrent seizures, and gut microbiota. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the alterations of GM composition in patients with epilepsy.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted up to June 26, 2024, across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. The study outcomes were α- and β-diversity indexes, and relative abundance at different bacterial taxonomic levels, compared between epilepsy patients and healthy controls. Inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis was performed to estimate the standardized mean difference. We utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to assess the quality of the included studies.

RESULTS

In this systematic review, we included 16 case-control studies encompassing 438 cases and 369 controls, and 12 studies were included in the meta-analyses. α-diversity was not significantly different between epilepsy and control group. Of the 11 studies measuring β-diversity, 8 studies showed that the microbiota compositions of the two groups differed significantly. Verrucomicrobia was significantly higher in the epilepsy group (SMD = 0.39 [0.05, 0.72], p = 0.022) than in the control group. At the genus level, Roseburia (SMD = -0.50 [-0.84, -0.17], p = 0.003), Blautia (SMD = -0.40 [-0.73, -0.06], p = 0.022), and Dialister (SMD = -0.40 [-0.74, -0.07], p = 0.018) were significantly less abundant in patients with epilepsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings evince remarkable changes in gut microbiota composition in epilepsy. Bacterial genera that promote neuroinflammation are elevated in epilepsy. Our study revealed the interrelation between GM disruption and epileptogenesis, but the heterogeneity among the included results was high, and further investigation is encouraged.

Surgical Treatments, Devices, and Nonmedical Management of Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Many patients with epilepsy are unable to achieve optimal seizure control with medical therapy. This article focuses on surgical approaches, dietary therapies, and seizure detection devices.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

For more than a century, resective epilepsy surgery has been a treatment option for some patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Other surgical options have emerged for patients for whom resection is not possible or is associated with unacceptable risks, including minimally invasive epilepsy surgery and neurostimulation therapies. Dietary therapies, such as the ketogenic diet, can also help improve seizure control, especially in children. For patients with ongoing nocturnal convulsive seizures, seizure detection devices can alert caregivers and potentially reduce the risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

ESSENTIAL POINTS

Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy should be referred to comprehensive epilepsy centers to determine if they qualify for nonpharmacologic treatment options to reduce the risk of seizures and premature death and improve quality of life.

Factors associated with placebo response rate in randomized controlled trials of antiseizure medications for focal epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of novel treatments for epilepsy. However, there have been concerning increases in the placebo responder rate over time. To understand these trends, we evaluated features associated with increased placebo responder rate.

METHODS

Using individual-level data from 20 focal-onset seizure trials provided by seven pharmaceutical companies, we evaluated associations with change in seizure frequency in participants randomized to placebo. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate participant and study factors associated with differing rates of 50% reduction in seizure frequency during blinded placebo treatment, as compared to pre-randomization baseline seizure frequency. In addition, we focused on the association of placebo responder rate with pre-randomization baseline seizure frequency and country of recruitment.

RESULTS

In the pooled analysis of 1674 participants randomized to placebo, a higher 50% responder rate (50RR) was associated with a shorter duration of epilepsy (p = .006), lower baseline seizure rate (p = .002), fewer concomitant antiseizure medications (p = .004), absence of adverse events (p < .001), more trial arms (p = .006), and geographic region (p < .001). Mixture modeling indicated a significantly higher 50RR in Bulgaria, Croatia, India, and Canada (42% in the higher group vs 22% in the lower group comprising all 40 other countries, p < 10-15). In addition, there was a significantly higher 50RR in participants with a baseline seizure frequency of six or fewer seizures per 28 days (29% vs 21%, p = .00018).

SIGNIFICANCE

These results can assist future RCTs in estimating the expected placebo responder rate, which may lead to more reliable power estimates. Higher placebo responder rate was associated with markers of less-refractory epilepsy. There were concerning significant differences in placebo responder rate by country and geographic region as well as an elevated placebo responder rate in participants with baseline seizure frequency close to the minimum eligibility criteria.

Accelerometer-measured physical activity patterns in daily life and their association with factors of sedentary behavior in people with epilepsy

OBJECTIVES

Being physically active is important, but people with epilepsy (PWE) tend to have a sedentary lifestyle. There is limited evidence about physical activity patterns in PWE using objective measures. The aims of this study were: (1) to examine the physical activity patterns of PWE, (2) compare activity patterns between PWE in terms of drug-resistant epilepsy and medically controlled epilepsy with age- and sex-matched healthy controls; and (3) explore the association between physical activity patterns and body function and structure, activity and participation, and quality of life of PWE.

METHODS

Seventy-three PWE and 74 healthy controls were enrolled. Physical activity data were collected prospectively over a 7-day period using a SenseWear Arm Band. Body function and structure in PWE were evaluated using the Fatigue Severity Scale, 30-second Chair Stand (30CST), Biodex-Fall Risk, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Beck Depression Inventory, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Activity and participation in PWE were measured using Activities-specific Balance Confidence, Timed Up and Go Test, Six-Minute Walk Test, and Tinetti-Balance and Tinetti-Gait. The quality of life of PWE was evaluated using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31.

RESULTS

PWE took fewer steps per day and were sedentary for more time compared with healthy controls (7826 vs. 10,564 steps, P = 0.01; 534 min/day vs. 463 min/day, P < 0.001), especially PWE with drug-resistant epilepsy. 30CST, MoCA, and Biodex-Fall Risk were associated with sedentary behavior, with Biodex-Fall Risk explaining 7.2 % of the variance.

CONCLUSIONS

PWE demonstrated lower physical activity levels compared with healthy individuals, especially those with drug-resistant epilepsy. Our study highlights the need to tailor strategies including postural stability exercises for the enhancement of physical activity levels in PWE.

Efficacy and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in treatment of refractory epilepsy: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials

Despite the currently available treatment, one-third of epilepsy patients continue to experience seizures. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a potential neuromodulation approach for the non-invasive treatment of refractory epilepsy. This study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation of the efficacy and safety of tDCS in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The following databases were searched from inception until June 2023; PubMed, Scopus, Embase, WOS, EBSCO, Cochrane Central, and Ovid MEDLINE. Pooled mean difference was calculated for change in seizure frequency (SF), and number of Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) at different follow-up intervals. We included nine parallel randomized sham-controlled trials with a total of 267 patients. Active tDCS patients had a significantly lower SF per month at 4 and 8 weeks (MD = -4.06, 95% CI [-6.01 to -2.12], p < 0.0001), and (MD = -2.66, 95% CI [-5.09 to -0.23], p = 0.03), respectively. However, weekly SF showed no statistically significant results at 4 weeks of follow-up. The IEDs were observed to significantly decline at 2, 4, and 8 weeks of follow-up. The reported adverse events were mild including mild itching and erythematous rash that resolved spontaneously. In conclusion, tDCS significantly reduced monthly SF and the number of IEDs. Future large RCTs with standard clear informed parameters are still required.