Age-specific incidence and prevalence rates of treated epilepsy in an unselected population of 2,052,922 and age-specific fertility rates of women with epilepsy

EEG and semiology in the elderly: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence and incidence of epileptic seizures and epilepsy increases among the elderly. Epileptic seizures in older people remain often unreported and undiagnosed, contributing to incorrect or delayed treatment. The goal of our review paper is to increase awareness of seizures in the elderly, to improve the diagnostic process in this growing population.

METHODS

We present a systematic review of the literature on EEG findings and seizure semiology among the elderly according to the PRISMA statement. One hundred and two original studies were included and findings were divided in four groups: EEG among elderly without seizures, EEG among elderly with seizures or epilepsy, semiology, and status epilepticus.

CONCLUSIONS

EEG abnormalities are found in approximately half of the geriatric population referred to routine EEG. Slowing (both focal and diffuse) is the most common finding among seniors with and without seizures. Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) are likewise seen among healthy seniors, which reduces their specificity as biomarker for epilepsy. Focal onset seizures prevail among the aged. Generalized seizures are uncommon, starting usually earlier in life but exacerbating in later years. Motor phenomena are less frequently seen than among younger individuals. Seizures are mainly characterized by impairment of awareness, disturbed cognition and confusion, both ictally and postictally. Unresponsiveness may occur during non-epileptic events too, which further challenges seizure recognition. Epilepsy and dementia are bi-directionally related: dementia carries an increased risk of developing epilepsy and vice versa. Up to 45 % of the aged with new onset seizures present with status epilepticus (SE). SE among the elderly is more often focal motor; non-convulsive status epilepticus (NSCE) constitutes 10-25 %.

Sleep profiles in epilepsy patients undergoing monotherapy and polytherapy: A comparative cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Sleep disturbances commonly reported among epilepsy patients have a reciprocal relationship with the condition; While epilepsy and anti-seizure medications (ASMs) can disrupt sleep structure, disturbed sleep can also exacerbate the frequency of seizures. This study explored subjective sleep disturbances and compared sleep profiles in patients who underwent ASM monotherapy and polytherapy.

METHODS

We enrolled 176 epilepsy patients who completed a structured questionnaire containing demographic and clinical information and the Persian versions of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to evaluate sleep quality, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and depressive symptoms, respectively. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to analyze the association between variables, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors predicting sleep disturbances.

RESULTS

Comparative analysis of mono/polytherapy groups revealed a significantly higher prevalence of insomnia and EDS among patients on polytherapy compared to monotherapy. However, no significant difference was found in sleep quality between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a depressive mood serves as a robust predictor for sleep issues, whereas treatment type did not emerge as an independent predictor of sleep disturbances.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that an increased number of ASMs does not inherently result in a higher incidence of sleep issues. Therefore, multiple ASMs may be prescribed when necessary to achieve improved seizure control. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of comprehensive management that addresses seizure control and treating affective symptoms in individuals with epilepsy.

[Epilepsy and pregnancy]

BACKGROUND

Regarding treatment of women of childbearing potential with epilepsy, several aspects of family planning and desire to have children have to be taken into account.

OBJECTIVE

Overview of current data on mutual implications of epileptic seizures, antiseizure medication (ASM), pregnancy and child development.

METHOD

Review of the current literature, discussion and presentation of resulting treatment recommendations.

RESULTS

Many ASMs bear the potential for clinically relevant interactions with both contraceptives and altered concentrations of sexual hormones and modified pharmacokinetics during pregnancy. All ASMs show an increased risk for congenital malformations; however, due to seizure-related risks for the mother and child effective ASM treatment during pregnancy is crucial.

CONCLUSION

When considering the special aspects of consultation and treatment of women of childbearing potential with epilepsy most pregnancies are uncomplicated.

Incidence and Prevalence of Epilepsy in Japan: A Retrospective Analysis of Insurance Claims Data of 9,864,278 Insured Persons

INTRODUCTION

The burden of epilepsy is thought to be high but is difficult to measure. Very few studies in Japan have attempted to estimate prevalence and incidence rates of epilepsy in Japan.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used commercially collected nationwide insurance claims data from a cohort of 10 million persons between 2012 and 2019 among those aged 0 to 74 years. Using the claims data, cases were identified, and incidence and prevalence rates were estimated.

RESULTS

A total of 9,864,278 persons were included. The average age was 34.5 (standard deviation, 18.5) years. A total of 77,312 persons were diagnosed with epilepsy over the 8-year observation period, with a prevalence rate of 6.0 per 1,000 persons with almost no difference by gender. The highest rates were seen among those aged 70-74 years; prevalence rates tended to rise with calendar year (5.4/1,000 in 2012 and 6.0/1,000 in 2019). The incidence rate of epilepsy was 72.1 per 100,000 person-years with slightly higher rates seen among females. Incidence rates were highest at ages less than 12 months (199.8/100,000 person-years), followed by the eldest age group (70-74 years, 179.4/100,000 person-years).

CONCLUSION

Understanding the magnitude of disease burden is the basis of determining health policies. In this study, the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in Japan was shown based on the analysis results of a large-scale general population insurance claims data covering all over Japan.

Perampanel as only add-on epilepsy treatment in elderly: A subgroup analysis of real-world data from retrospective, multicenter, observational study

INTRODUCTION

Drug management of epilepsy in the elderly presents unique but data on this population are scarce. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel (PER) used as only add-on to a background anti-seizure medication (ASM) in the elderly in a real-world setting.

METHODS

We performed a subgroup analysis of patients aged ≥65 years included in a previous 12-month multicenter study on adults. Treatment discontinuation, seizure frequency, and adverse events were recorded at 3, 6 and 12 months after PER introduction. Sub-analyses by early (≤1 previous ASM) or late PER add-on were also conducted.

RESULTS

The sample included 65 subjects (mean age: 75.7 ± 7.2 years), with mainly focal (73.8%) epilepsy. The mean PER daily dose was ≈4 mg during all follow-up. Retention rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 90.5%, 89.6%, and 79.4%ly. The baseline median normalized per 28-day seizure number significantly decreased at 3-, 6- and 12-month visits. One year after PER introduction, the responder rate (≥50% reduction in baseline seizure frequency) was 89.7%, with a seizure freedom rate of 72.4%. Adverse events occurred in 22 (34.9%) patients with dizziness and irritability being the most frequent. No major differences between early (41 patients, 63.1%), and late add-on groups were observed.

CONCLUSION

Adjunctive PER was effective and well-tolerated when used as only add-on treatment in elderly people with epilepsy in clinical practice, thus representing a suitable therapeutic option in this age category.

Anesthetic management for emergency cesarean section in a patient with status epilepticus: A case report

RATIONALE

The presence of clinically significant repeated maternal epilepsies during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. However, there are few guidelines for anesthesiologists to deal with this situation.

PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES

A 28-year-old primigravida was transferred to the operating room for emergency cesarean section. Based on the patient's complaints and clinical appearance, provisional diagnosis of preeclampsia at 33 weeks' gestation as well as frequent and repeated grand mal convulsions at 14 years of age were considered. The anesthetic modalities of the disease are also discussed.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

Because the usual antiepileptic therapy had failed, the patient with status epilepticus underwent surgery under general anesthesia. The newborn was handed to the pediatrician and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for further observation and discharged 4 days later. No peri-operative or anesthetic complications were observed.

LESSONS

Providing anesthesia to patients undergoing cesarean section poses major challenges for anesthesiologists. Close monitoring and proper treatment can help reduce risks for both the mother and baby.

Teratogenic impacts of Antiepileptic drugs on development, behavior and reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster

Clobazam (CLB) and Vigabatrin (VGB) are the two widely used Antiepileptic drugs, which may have teratogenic potentiality and it has been evaluated in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These different concentrations of CLB (0.156, 0.25, and 0.312 μg/ml) and VGB (17.6, 22, and 44 μg/ml) were used to evaluate the life-history parameters, developmental, and behavioral abnormalities. The results revealed that life-history parameters (fecundity, fertility, larval and pupal mortality) were significantly affected along with varied developmental duration, and pupal and adult deformities in flies on exposure of CLB and VGB in concentration dependent manner. The present study demonstrated that the prenatal treatment of CLB and VGB has displayed clear teratogenic potentiality with various deformities in the fruit fly. The findings could be correlated with the various abnormalities in human caused by the use of AEDs.

Late-onset epilepsy with cognitive symptoms: Comparison of cognitive and imaging profiles with probable Alzheimer's disease

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to (i) compare the clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging characteristics of unprovoked late-onset epilepsy (LOE) patients with cognitive symptoms against probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients; (ii) clarify how neurodegeneration and other processes could be implicated in the cognitive symptoms of unprovoked LOE patients; and (iii) characterize the longitudinal trajectory of unprovoked LOE patients with cognitive symptoms.

METHODS

Twenty-six unprovoked LOE patients with cognitive symptoms and 26 probable AD were retrospectively recruited from epilepsy and memory clinics at a single tertiary referral center. The patients underwent comprehensive clinical, neuropsychological, and 18Fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT assessments. All LOE patients had clinical follow-up and a subset of 17 patients had repeat neuropsychological assessments.

RESULTS

At baseline, 18% of LOE patients with cognitive symptoms had dementia-range cognitive impairment and one received a diagnosis of probable AD. Compared with the probable AD group, the LOE group did not perform significantly better in global measures of cognition (total ACE-III), neuropsychological tests for fluency, working memory, language, attention, or executive function, but performed better in naming, memory, and visuospatial ability. The commonest patterns of cognitive impairment in the LOE group were frontal and left temporal, whereas all AD patients exhibited parietotemporal patterns. The AD group had more 18Fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT hypometabolism in the parietal and occipital, but not the temporal and frontal lobes. During the 3.0 ± 3.2 years follow-up, improved seizure frequency in the LOE group covaried with improved total ACE-III score, there was no further conversion to probable AD and no group-level cognitive decline.

CONCLUSION

Unprovoked LOE patients with cognitive symptoms had varying severities of cognitive impairment, and different patterns of cognitive and imaging abnormalities compared with AD patients. They were rarely diagnosed with probable AD at presentation or follow-up. Cognitive outcome in LOE may be related to seizure control. Cerebral small vessel disease may play a role in LOE-associated cognitive impairment.

Quality of Life in Pediatrics With Intractable Epilepsy at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical domains of quality of life (QoL) in pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy with an emphasis on depressed mood and suicidal ideation (SI). Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted in pediatric neurology outpatient clinics in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 59 parents whose children aged 4-14 years of either sex had intractable epilepsy. The Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire - 55 (QOLCE-55) scale examined four domains of life: cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. Depressed mood and SI were part of the emotional domain. Results  The mean ± SD age of children was 8.2 ± 3.25. The mean ± SD of overall QoL was 43.02 ± 15.70, which reflected a poor QoL. Age was not related to the QoL. Female gender was significantly associated with a lower overall QoL (P = 0.0477). Patients with comorbidities had statistically insignificant lower QoL in the cognitive, social, and physical domains in addition to lower overall QoL. Seven of nine participants who reported feeling down reported having SI in the last four weeks (P < 0.001). Conclusions An intractable epilepsy-imposed burden negatively impacts all domains of QoL. Furthermore, females experience lower overall QoL compared to males. Children with comorbidities also tend to have lower QoL scores, although the differences were statistically insignificant. Additionally, a history of feeling down is associated with SI.

Impact of depression and antidepressant use on clinical outcomes of hepatitis B and C: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Depression is common in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. We evaluated the impact of major depressive disorder (MDD) and antidepressant use on survival among patients with HBV and HCV.

METHODS

We used The Health Improvement Network database, the largest medical database in the UK, to identify incident HBV (n=1401) and HCV (n=1635) in patients between 1986 and 2017. Our primary composite outcome was the development of decompensated cirrhosis or death. MDD and each class of antidepressants were assessed in multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and clinical comorbidities.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MDD among HCV patients was higher compared with HBV patients (23.5% vs. 9.0%, p<0.001, respectively). Similarly, HCV patients were more likely to use antidepressants (59.6%) compared with HBV patients (27.1%), p>0.001. MDD was not an independent predictor for decompensated cirrhosis-free survival or mortality. However, the use of tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs) was associated with poor decompensated cirrhosis-free survival in HBV and HCV cohorts (adjusted HR: 1.80, 95% CI, 1.00-3.26 and 1.56, 95% CI, 1.13-2.14, respectively). Both TCAs in the HBV cohort and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors among the HCV cohort were associated with poor overall survival (adjusted HR: 2.18, 95% CI, 1.16-4.10; 1.48, 95% CI, 1.02-2.16, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Although prevalent among viral hepatitis patients, MDD did not affect disease progression or survival in either HBV or HCV cohorts. TCA use was associated with poor decompensated cirrhosis-free survival. Therefore, its use should be further studied among viral hepatitis patients.

Reproduction and genetic causal attribution of epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

This study addresses the contribution of genetics-related concerns to reduced childbearing among people with epilepsy.

METHODS

Surveys were completed by 606 adult patients with epilepsy of unknown cause at our medical center. Poisson regression analysis was used to assess the relations of number of offspring to: (1) genetic attribution (GA: participants' belief that genetics was a cause of their epilepsy), assessed via a novel scale developed from four survey items (Cronbach's alpha = .89), (2) participants' estimates of epilepsy risk in the child of a parent with epilepsy (1%, 5%-10%, 25%, and 50%-100%), and (3) participants' reports of the influence on their reproductive decisions of "the chance of having a child with epilepsy" (none/weak/moderate, strong/very strong). Analyses were adjusted for age, education, race/ethnicity, religion, type of epilepsy (generalized, focal, and both/unclassifiable), and age at epilepsy onset (<10, 10-19, and ≥20 years).

RESULTS

Among participants 18-45 years of age, the number of offspring decreased significantly with increasing GA (highest vs lowest GA quartile rate ratio [RR] = .5, p < .001), and increasing estimated epilepsy risk in offspring (with 5%-10% as referent because it is closest to the true value, RR for 25%: .7, p = .05; RR for 50%-100%: .6, p = .03). Number of offspring was not related to the reported influence of "the chance of having a child with epilepsy" on reproductive decisions. Among participants >45 years of age, the number of offspring did not differ significantly according to GA quartile or estimated offspring epilepsy risk. However, those reporting a strong/very strong influence on their reproductive decisions of "the chance of having a child with epilepsy" had only 60% as many offspring as others.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings suggest that overestimating the risk of epilepsy in offspring can have important consequences for people with epilepsy. Patient and provider education about recurrence risks and genetic testing options to clarify risks are critical, given their potential influence on reproductive decisions.

Double-edged Role of KNa Channels in Brain Tuning: Identifying Epileptogenic Network Micro-Macro Disconnection

Epilepsy is commonly recognized as a disease driven by generalized hyperexcited and hypersynchronous neural activity. Sodium-activated potassium channels (K_Na channels), which are encoded by the Slo 2.2 and Slo 2.1 genes, are widely expressed in the central nervous system and considered as "brakes" to adjust neuronal adaptation through regulating action potential threshold or after-hyperpolarization under physiological condition. However, the variants in K_Na channels, especially gain-of-function variants, have been found in several childhood epileptic conditions. Most previous studies focused on mapping the epileptic network on the macroscopic scale while ignoring the value of microscopic changes. Notably, paradoxical role of K_Na channels working on individual neuron/microcircuit and the macroscopic epileptic expression highlights the importance of understanding epileptogenic network through combining microscopic and macroscopic methods. Here, we first illustrated the molecular and physiological function of K_Na channels on preclinical seizure models and patients with epilepsy. Next, we summarized current hypothesis on the potential role of K_Na channels during seizures to provide essential insight into what emerged as a micro-macro disconnection at different levels. Additionally, we highlighted the potential utility of K_Na channels as therapeutic targets for developing innovative anti-seizure medications.

Adjunctive Brivaracetam in Older Patients with Focal Seizures: Evidence from the BRIVAracetam add‑on First Italian netwoRk Study (BRIVAFIRST)

Background

The management of epilepsy in older adults has become part of daily practice because of an aging population. Older patients with epilepsy represent a distinct and more vulnerable clinical group as compared with younger patients, and they are generally under-represented in randomized placebo-controlled trials. Real-world studies can therefore be a useful complement to characterize the drug’s profile. Brivaracetam is a rationally developed compound characterized by high-affinity binding to synaptic vesicle protein 2A and approved as adjunctive therapy for focal seizures in adults with epilepsy.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the 12-month effectiveness and tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam in older patients (≥65 years of age) with epilepsy treated in a real-world setting.

Methods

The BRIVAFIRST (BRIVAracetam add-on First Italian netwoRk STudy) was a 12-month retrospective multicenter study including adult patients prescribed adjunctive brivaracetam. Effectiveness outcomes included the rates of seizure response (≥50% reduction in baseline seizure frequency), seizure freedom, and treatment discontinuation. Safety and tolerability outcomes included the rate of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events and the incidence of adverse events. Data were compared for patients aged ≥65 years of age (‘older’) vs those aged <65 years (‘younger’).

Results

There were 1029 patients with focal epilepsy included in the study, of whom 111 (10.8%) were aged ≥65 years. The median daily dose of brivaracetam at 3 months was 100 [interquartile range, 100–175] mg in the older group and 100 [100–200] mg in the younger group (p = 0.036); it was 150 [100–200] mg in both groups either at 6 months (p = 0.095) or 12 months (p = 0.140). At 12 months, 49 (44.1%) older and 334 (36.4%) younger patients had a reduction in their baseline seizure frequency by at least 50% (p = 0.110), and the seizure freedom rates were 35/111 (31.5%) and 134/918 (14.6%) in older and younger groups, respectively (p < 0.001). During the 1-year study period, 20 (18.0%) patients in the older group and 245 (26.7%) patients in the younger group discontinued brivaracetam (p = 0.048). Treatment withdrawal because of insufficient efficacy was less common in older than younger patients [older: n = 7 (6.3%), younger: n = 152 (16.6%); p = 0.005]. Adverse events were reported by 24.2% of older patients and 30.8% of younger patients (p = 0.185); the most common adverse events were somnolence, nervousness and/or agitation, vertigo, and fatigue in both study groups.

Conclusions

Adjunctive brivaracetam was efficacious, had good tolerability, and no new or unexpected safety signals emerged when used to treat older patients with uncontrolled focal seizures in clinical practice. Adjunctive brivaracetam can be a suitable therapeutic option in this special population.

Reproductive decision-making in families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated factors influencing reproductive decision-making in families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy.

METHODS

One hundred forty-nine adults with epilepsy and 149 adult biological relatives without epilepsy from families containing multiple affected individuals completed a self-administered questionnaire. Participants answered questions regarding their belief in a genetic cause of epilepsy (genetic attribution) and estimated risk of epilepsy in offspring of an affected person. Participants rated factors for their influence on their reproductive plans, with responses ranging from "much more likely" to "much less likely" to want to have a child. Those with epilepsy were asked, "Do you think you would have wanted more (or any) children if you had not had epilepsy?"

RESULTS

Participants with epilepsy had fewer offspring than their unaffected relatives (mean = 1.2 vs. 1.9, p = .002), and this difference persisted among persons who had been married. Estimates of risk of epilepsy in offspring of an affected parent were higher among participants with epilepsy than among relatives without epilepsy (mean = 27.2 vs. 19.6, p = .002). Nineteen percent of participants with epilepsy responded that they would have wanted more children if they had not had epilepsy. Twenty-five percent of participants with epilepsy responded that "the chance of having a child with epilepsy" or "having epilepsy in your family" made them less likely to want to have a child. Having these genetic concerns was significantly associated with greater genetic attribution and estimated risk of epilepsy in offspring of an affected parent.

SIGNIFICANCE

People with epilepsy have fewer children than their biological relatives without epilepsy. Beliefs about genetic causes of epilepsy contribute to concerns and decisions to limit childbearing. These beliefs should be addressed in genetic counseling to ensure that true risks to offspring and reproductive options are well understood.

Ten year cumulative incidence of dementia after late onset epilepsy of unknown etiology

Recent epidemiological studies suggest late life onset epilepsy of unknown etiology (LOEU) is a risk factor for future dementia. These studies rely on inclusion and exclusion of multiple diagnostic codes rather than structured data and neuroimaging findings, and thus challenging to interpret clinically. We assessed the cumulative incidence of dementia in patients with LOEU diagnosed through admission data and neuroimaging over a 10-year follow-up and compared baseline characteristics that distinguish group level incident dementia. We screened our hospital records for patients aged 55-69 with new epilepsy, admitted between 2000 and 2008, and excluded patients diagnosed with epilepsy from an underlying cause on medical records or neuroimaging. We used retrospective hospital data to follow patients for incident dementia or mortality at 10 years and compared baseline (demographics, depression or anxiety, vascular risk factors, results of electroencephalogram (EEG) studies, antidepressant use and type of ant seizure medication) and follow up (seizure recurrence, incident cerebrovascular disease) characteristics for patients with and without incident dementia. Fifty-four LOEU cases were screened, age at first seizure was 61 ± 5. The 10-year cumulative incidence of dementia was 22.20% (95% Confidence Interval 22.08-23.10%) and time to dementia diagnosis was 5.4 ± 3.9 years. Patients with incident dementia were more likely to be women (83% vs 38%, p = 0.002), have interictal epileptic form discharges (IED) on baseline EEG (70% vs 29%, p = 0.011) and depression or anxiety (50% vs 18%, p = 0.026). No differences were found in other baseline or follow up characteristics. Our results support recent findings of dementia incidence in LOEU. Prospective studies on LOEU should evaluate phenotypic determinants of individuals with late life epilepsy and the rate of progression to dementia.

Best care for older people with epilepsy: A scoping review

There are two peaks of diagnosis of epilepsy: in childhood and in people over 65. Older people may have complex needs like co-morbidity, polypharmacy, frailty, and social isolation. This scoping review focusses on the care of older people with epilepsy beyond diagnosis and medical treatment. We sought to identify areas within the UK health service needing development either in clinical practice or through further research. The search returned 4864 papers with 33 papers included in the review. The papers were grouped into psychosocial, self-management and services themes. Only one randomised controlled trial was found. Research was mainly based on cohort and case-control studies. Older people require more information to self-manage epilepsy and more psychological support to help with symptoms of anxiety and depression. People reported experiencing stigma and a reluctance to disclose their condition. This may increase the risk of isolation and difficulties in managing epilepsy. Studies reported that older people are referred less to neurologists, suggesting there may be a gap in care provision compared to younger people. Generalist health professionals may be better placed to provide holistic care, but they may need additional training to alleviate uncertainties in managing epilepsy. Care plans could help provide information, particularly for co-morbidity, but few had one. Our findings highlight psychological and self-management needs for managing epilepsy in older people. Health service staff may require upskilling to shift epilepsy management from neurologists to generalists. More research is needed regarding psychological and self-management interventions, particularly in the form of randomised controlled trials.

Quality of life in paediatrics with intractable epilepsy in a large paediatric university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Context:

Epilepsy is said to be intractable when two or more trials of anticonvulsants fail to control the seizures. Literature suggests that intractable epilepsy carries a higher morbidity than controlled epilepsy in children and their caregivers.

Aims:

The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life (QOL) in children with intractable epilepsy (IE) in KASCH, a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Settings and Design:

This is a cross-sectional study utilizing a self-administered questionnaire filled by caregivers of epileptic patients visiting the outpatient neurology clinics.

Methods and Materials:

The quality of life in childhood epilepsy (QOLCE-55) scale examined four domains of life: cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. The sample consisted of 59 parents whose children aged 4-14 of either sex.

Statistical Analysis Used:

The collected data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.

Results:

The mean age of children was 8.9 (SD = 2.9). The mean QOL was 52.8 (SD = 12.9), which reflected a poor QOL. Age was not related to the QOL. Gender was significantly associated with the total and social scores, (P = 0.04) (P = 0.001), respectively. Out of all comorbidities, global developmental delay (GDD) and encephalopathy were significantly associated with the QOL (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Intractable epilepsy impacted all functioning domains of life rendering a poor QOL. Males have reported better QOL and social functioning compared to females. Children with GDD and encephalopathy showed lower well-being.

New anti-seizure medication for elderly epilepsy patients - a critical narrative review

Introduction: The number of elderly patients with epilepsy is growing in resource rich countries due to demographic changes and increased longevity. Management in these patients is challenging as underlying etiology, co-morbidities, polypharmacy, age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes need to be considered.Areas covered: Lacosamide, eslicarbazepine acetate, brivaracetam, and perampanel have been approved in the USA and Europe for monotherapy and/or adjunctive treatment of seizures in the last few years. The authors review the pharmacological properties and safety profile of these drugs and provide recommendations for their use in in the elderly.Expert opinion: There are only limited data available on more recent antiseizure medications (ASMs). Drugs with a low risk of interaction (lacosamide, brivaracetam) are preferred choices. Once daily formulations (perampanel and eslicarbazepine acetate) have the advantage of increased compliance. Intravenous formulations (brivaracetam and lacosamide) are useful in emergency situations and in patients who have difficulties to swallow. Dose adjustments are necessary for all ASMs used in the elderly with slow titration and lower target doses than in the regulatory trials. The adverse event profile does not significantly differ from that found in the general adult population.

A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis of Mozart's Music for drug-resistant epilepsy

BACKGROUND

This study will aim to assess the effectiveness of Mozart's Music (MM) for the management of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

METHODS

In this study, we will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, Chinese Scientific Journal Database Information, WANGFANG, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from their inauguration to March 1, 2020 without language and publication time restrictions. We will also identify other literature resources, such as reference lists of any related reviews. Trial quality will be examined by Cochrane risk of bias tool; reporting bias will be identified by a funnel plot and Egger test; and statistical analysis will be undertaken by RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

This study will summarize high quality randomized controlled trials to appraise the effectiveness and safety of MM for the treatment of patients with DRE.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study will supply evidence to judge whether MM is effective on DRE at evidence-based medicine level.

STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020170512.

Epilepsy and aging

The intersection of epilepsy and aging has broad, significant implications. Substantial increases in seizures occur both in the elderly population, who are at a higher risk of developing new-onset epilepsy, and in those with chronic epilepsy who become aged. There are notable gaps in our understanding of aging and epilepsy at the basic and practical levels, which have important consequences. We are in the early stages of understanding the complex relationships between epilepsy and other age-related brain diseases such as stroke, dementia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and cancer. Furthermore, the clinician must recognize that the presentation and treatment of epilepsy in the elderly are different from those of younger populations. Given the developing awareness of the problem and the capabilities of contemporary, multidisciplinary approaches to advance understanding about the biology of aging and epilepsy, it is reasonable to expect that we will unravel some of the intricacies of epilepsy in the elderly; it is also reasonable to expect that these gains will lead to further improvements in our understanding and treatment of epilepsy for all age groups.

Seizures in the context of occult cerebrovascular disease

There is an important bidirectional relationship between seizures and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Aside from poststroke epilepsy, Occult CVD is an important cause of late-onset seizures (LOS) and late-onset epilepsy (LOE). Late-onset seizures/LOE are associated with a threefold increased risk of subsequent clinical stroke. This relationship exists not only in later life, but with 'late-onset' seizures or epilepsy occurring from the fourth decade of life onwards. There is increasing evidence for the importance of hypertension and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) in epileptogenesis, but there is a considerable need for further work to elucidate underlying mechanisms. There may be a disproportionately increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after LOS/LOE; this too requires further study. There is also a bidirectional relationship between LOS/LOE and cognitive impairment/dementia: it is likely that there are important interactions between vascular and neurodegenerative pathological processes mediating LOE, stroke, and dementia. There is a pressing need for better epidemiological and natural history data as well as elucidation of epileptogenic mechanisms, in order to progress our understanding and to better inform clinical practice.

Exploring novel diabetes surveillance methods: a comparison of administrative, laboratory and pharmacy data case definitions using THIN

Background

The objective of this study was to identify patients with diabetes in a comprehensive primary care electronic medical records database using a number of different case definitions (clinical, pharmacy, laboratory definitions and a combination thereof) and understand the differences in patient populations being captured by each definition.

Methods

Data for this population-based retrospective cohort study was obtained from The Health Information Network (THIN). THIN is a longitudinal, primary care medical records database of over 9 million patients in UK. Primary outcome was a diagnosis of diabetes, defined by the presence of a diabetes read code, or an abnormal laboratory result, or a prescription for an Oral Anti-diabetic drug or insulin. A 2-year washout period was applied prior to the index of diabetes to avoid inclusion of prevalent cases for each case definition.

Results

This study demonstrated that different case definitions of diabetes identify different sub-populations of patients. When the cohorts were observed based on any measure of central tendency, each of the cohorts were reasonably comparable to each other. However, the distribution of each of the cohorts when grouped by age categories and sex, reveal differences. For example, using pharmacy case definition results in a bimodal distribution among women, one between 1-19 year and 35-39 age categories, and then again between 60-64 and 85 years-however, the histogram becomes more normally distributed when metformin was removed from the case definition.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that clinical, pharmacy, laboratory case definitions identify different sub-populations and using multiple case definitions is likely required to optimally identify the entire diabetes population within THIN. Our study also suggests that age and sex of patients may affect the indexing of diabetes in THIN and is critical to better understand these variations.

Late-onset unexplained epilepsy: What are we missing?

With the aging of the US population, the incidence of epilepsy will increase, with 25 to 50% of new cases with no identifiable etiology diagnosed as late-onset unexplained epilepsy (LOUE). In the current targeted review, we discuss the possible role of cerebral small vessel ischemic disease, accumulation of amyloidβ and hyperphosphorylated tau, and sleep apnea as potential pathophysiologic mechanisms explaining LOUE. We highlight the impact of these processes on cognition and avenues for diagnosis and treatment.

Predictors of early seizure recurrence among elderly inpatients admitted to a tertiary center: A prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Early seizure recurrence is common among elderly inpatients and is related to increased morbidity and a longer length of hospital stay. There are few studies on the short-term outcomes of seizures in the elderly population. We aimed to identify the predictors of early seizure recurrence among elderly inpatients.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled patients aged 60 years and older from a tertiary center who had seizures that either led to their hospital admission or occurred during hospitalization. We analyzed the demographic and hospitalization data, characteristics and etiology of seizures, and neurological and clinical comorbidities. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to determine the 30-day cumulative recurrence rates. The logrank test was used to analyze the risk of seizure recurrence within 30 days after the index seizure. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for the recurrence of seizures within 30 days.

RESULTS

Overall, 109 patients (mean age: 75.9 ± 9.6 years) were enrolled. The mean age at the first-ever seizure was 74 ± 11.7 years. Unprovoked seizures occurred in 59.6% of the patients. Cerebrovascular disorders were the most prevalent etiology (52.3%). Early seizure recurrence, defined as within 30 days, occurred in 27.5% of patients. Multimorbidity was found in 95.4% of our inpatients (6.3 ± 2.3 [95% confidence interval, 5.4-7.2]), and the number of comorbidities was higher among those who had seizure recurrence than that among those who did not have seizure recurrence (p = 0.02). The probability of seizure recurrence was similar among the subgroups of patients who experienced acute seizures versus unprovoked seizures (both p = 0.03), and seizure recurrence was associated with a longer length of hospital stay (p = 0.005) compared to that of patients who did not experience seizure recurrence. After multivariate analysis, sepsis (p = 0.011), psychiatric disorders (p = 0.032), and cardiac arrhythmias (p = 0.037) were identified as risk factors for early seizure recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher multimorbidity and a longer length of stay were associated with early seizure recurrence; and sepsis, psychiatric disorders, and cardiac arrhythmias were independent risk factors for early seizure recurrence among elderly inpatients.

Depression increases the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, which may be mitigated by the use of antidepressants in the treatment of depression

OBJECTIVE

Depression is associated with IBD, but the effect of antidepressants on IBD has been sparsely studied. We assessed the impact of depression and antidepressant therapies on the development of IBD.

DESIGN

The Health Improvement Network (THIN) was used to identify a cohort of patients with new-onset depression from 1986 to 2012. THIN patients who did not meet the defining criteria for depression were part of the referent group. The outcome was incident Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Cox proportional hazards modelling was performed to evaluate the rate of Crohn's disease or UC development among patients with an exposure of depression after controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic status, comorbid conditions, smoking, anxiety and antidepressant use including atypical antidepressants, mirtazapine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin modulators; and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA).

RESULTS

We identified 403 665 (7.05%) patients with incident depression. Individuals with depression had a significantly greater risk of developing CD (adjusted HR=2.11, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.70) and UC (adjusted HR=2.23, 95% CI 1.92 to 2.60) after controlling for demographic and clinical covariates. SSRI and TCA were protective against CD, whereas mirtazapine, SNRI, SSRI, serotonin modulators and TCA were protective for UC.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a history of depression were more likely to be diagnosed with IBD. In contrast, antidepressant treatments were selectively protective for Crohn's disease and UC. These results may impact counselling and management of depression and IBD.

Infertility, impaired fecundity, and live birth/pregnancy ratio in women with epilepsy in the USA: Findings of the Epilepsy Birth Control Registry

OBJECTIVE

To determine the current risks of infertility and impaired fecundity as well as the live birth/pregnancy ratio among women with epilepsy (WWE) in the USA and whether antiepileptic drug (AED) use is a factor.

METHODS

These retrospective survey data come from the 2010-2014 Epilepsy Birth Control Registry (EBCR) Web-based survey of 1000 WWE in the USA, aged 18-47 years, who provided demographic, epilepsy, AED, reproductive, and contraceptive data. We report risks of infertility and impaired fecundity, live birth/pregnancy ratio, and whether outcomes differ by AED use or category versus No AED.

RESULTS

A total of 978 of the 1000 USA WWE reported reproductive data; 373 WWE had 724 pregnancies and 445 births. An additional 38 WWE (9.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.7-12.4%) tried to conceive but were infertile. A total of 72.5% had a live birth outcome for their first pregnancy, 89.0% had at least one live birth for their first two pregnancies, and 61.6% had two live births for their first two pregnancies. Eighty-four of 406 WWE (20.7%, 95% CI = 17.0-2.9%) had impaired fecundity. The risk of impaired fecundity trended higher on AED polytherapy than on No AED (risk ratio [RR] = 1.79, 95% CI = 0.94-3.11, P = .08). The ratio of live birth/unaborted pregnancy (445/594, 74.9%) was similar among WWE on No AED (71.3%), AED monotherapy (71.8%), and polytherapy (69.7%). None of the AED categories differed significantly from No AED. Note that glucuronidated AED (lamotrigine), which had the highest ratio of live birth/pregnancy (89.1%), compared favorably to enzyme-inhibiting AED (valproate), which had the lowest (63.3%; RR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.05-1.88, P = .02).

SIGNIFICANCE

The EBCR finds 9.2% infertility risk and 20.7% impaired fecundity risk among WWE in the USA. Impaired fecundity trended higher on AED polytherapy than on No AED. Live birth/pregnancy ratio was higher with the use of lamotrigine than valproate. These findings may provide WWE a more objective basis for pregnancy planning.

An estimation of global volume of surgically treatable epilepsy based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, yet its global surgical burden has yet to be characterized. The authors sought to compile the most current epidemiological data to quantify global prevalence and incidence, and estimate global surgically treatable epilepsy. Understanding regional and global epilepsy trends and potential surgical volume is crucial for future policy efforts and resource allocation.

METHODS

The authors performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to determine the global incidence, lifetime prevalence, and active prevalence of epilepsy; to estimate surgically treatable epilepsy volume; and to evaluate regional trends by WHO regions and World Bank income levels. Data were extracted from all population-based studies with prespecified methodological quality across all countries and demographics, performed between 1990 and 2016 and indexed on PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane. The current and annual new case volumes for surgically treatable epilepsy were derived from global epilepsy prevalence and incidence.

RESULTS

This systematic review yielded 167 articles, across all WHO regions and income levels. Meta-analysis showed a raw global prevalence of lifetime epilepsy of 1099 per 100,000 people, whereas active epilepsy prevalence is slightly lower at 690 per 100,000 people. Global incidence was found to be 62 cases per 100,000 person-years. The meta-analysis predicted 4.6 million new cases of epilepsy annually worldwide, a prevalence of 51.7 million active epilepsy cases, and 82.3 million people with any lifetime epilepsy diagnosis. Differences across WHO regions and country incomes were significant. The authors estimate that currently 10.1 million patients with epilepsy may be surgical treatment candidates, and 1.4 million new surgically treatable epilepsy cases arise annually. The highest prevalences are found in Africa and Latin America, although the highest incidences are reported in the Middle East and Latin America. These regions are primarily low- and middle-income countries; as expected, the highest disease burden falls disproportionately on regions with the fewest healthcare resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding of the global epilepsy burden has evolved as more regions have been studied. This up-to-date worldwide analysis provides the first estimate of surgical epilepsy volume and an updated comprehensive overview of current epidemiological trends. The disproportionate burden of epilepsy on low- and middle-income countries will require targeted diagnostic and treatment efforts to reduce the global disparities in care and cost. Quantifying global epilepsy provides the first step toward restructuring the allocation of healthcare resources as part of global healthcare system strengthening.

Incidence of epilepsy and associated factors in elderly patients in Germany

AIMS

Little is known about the recent epidemiology of epilepsy in the elderly in Germany. Therefore, the goal of this study was to analyze the incidence of epilepsy and associated factors in elderly patients followed in general practices in this country.

METHODS

The incidence of epilepsy was estimated using data from all patients aged ≥60 years who were followed in 1203 general practices in Germany in 2017 (IQVIA Disease Analyzer database). The association between predefined variables and epilepsy was further studied using a case-control design (n = 4690 matched pairs). Cases were patients aged ≥60 years who had received a first diagnosis of epilepsy in general practices between 2015 and 2017 (index date). Controls without epilepsy were matched (1:1) to cases by age, gender, index year, and physician.

RESULTS

The incidence of epilepsy was 157 per 100,000 elderly persons. This incidence increased with age (92 per 100,000 persons in patients aged 60-65 years versus 311 in those aged >90 years) and was higher in men (166) than in women (150). The three disorders that had the strongest association with epilepsy were subarachnoid, intracerebral or intracranial hemorrhage (odds ratio [OR] = 3.31), stroke, including transient ischemic attack (OR = 2.32), and mental and behavioral disorders due to use of alcohol (OR = 2.20). In addition, there was a positive association between atypical neuroleptics and epilepsy (OR = 2.40).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of epilepsy was high and increased with age in elderly patients followed in general practices in Germany. Addressing identified risk factors may help reduce the risk of developing epilepsy.

Self-compassion and depression, anxiety, and resilience in adults with epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Research suggests that people with epilepsy (PWE) are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population. Given the adversity associated with the condition, resilience may also be important. However, to date, resilience has been largely overlooked in the epilepsy literature. Self-compassion has been widely associated with improved psychological wellbeing and, to a lesser extent, resilience. However, the relationship between self-compassion and depression, anxiety, and resilience in PWE has not been examined.

OBJECTIVES

Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, the aim of the present study was to examine the extent to which self-compassion predicted depression, anxiety, and resilience when controlling for demographic and illness-related variables.

METHODS

Adults with epilepsy were invited to take part in a survey online or in epilepsy or neurology clinics. Two-hundred and seventy participants completed the survey, and data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression models.

RESULTS

In this sample of PWE, self-compassion significantly predicted lower depression and anxiety and higher resilience when other significant sociodemographic and illness-related variables had been taken into account.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study indicate that self-compassion could be an important factor in determining psychological outcomes for adults with epilepsy, and its role is worthy of further exploration to help improve psychological outcomes for PWE.

Antiepileptic drug treatment during pregnancy and delivery in women with epilepsy-A retrospective single center study

PURPOSE

Antiepileptic drugs (AED) are among the most common teratogenic drugs prescribed to women of childbearing age. During pregnancy, the risk of seizures has to be weight against the use of AED treatment. Primary goal was to observe and describe AED treatment policy and its changes during an eleven-year period at our third referral center.

METHODS

We scrutinized the medical health records for all cases of female epileptic patients admitted for labor at the Rabin Medical Center during the years 2005 - 2015.

RESULTS

A total of 296 deliveries were recorded with 136 labors occurring in the period 2005-2010 (22.7/y) and 160 in 2011-2015 (32.0/y; increase of 41%). Twelve different AEDs were prescribed to WWE during pregnancies in the 11-year period investigated (2005-2015). Most commonly used AEDs during pregnancy were Lamotrigine (36.1%), Carbamazepine (25.0%), and Valproic Acid (13.5%). Comparing their use during the years 2005-2010 and 2011-2015, Lamotrigine (35.3% vs. 36.9%) and Carbamazepine use (23.5% vs. 26.0%) increased slightly. Valproic acid use was markedly reduced in the second period: 18.4% in the years 2005-2010 lowered to 9.4% during 2011-2015, a reduction of 48%. Unfortunately, a trend towards an increase in treating WWE with more than one AED was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of WWE treated with VPA during pregnancy was significantly reduced in the observed period (2005-2015). Change in fetal outcome during this period for WWE could not be detected.

Increasing Rates of Arthroplasty for Psoriatic Arthritis in the United Kingdom Between 1995 and 2010

OBJECTIVE

Arthroplasty requirements among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are not well known. This information is important to clinical and policy stakeholders for health-system planning and may serve as a surrogate for estimation of the efficacy of disease-modifying therapy.

METHODS

We utilized The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a large general practice medical records database in the UK, to assess rates of primary total arthroplasty among patients with PsA and the general population between the years 1995 and 2010. Linear regression was used to estimate arthroplasty rates for the 2 cohorts during the study period, and Poisson regression was used to determine age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) between the PsA and general population cohorts.

RESULTS

We identified 5,619 patients with incident PsA and 5,090,814 eligible patients from the general population between 1995 and 2010. In total, 187 primary total arthroplasties were documented in patients with PsA, and 80,163 primary total arthroplasties were documented in the general population. A trend of increasing arthroplasty rates was observed for both the PsA (R² = 0.809; P < 0.0001) and general population (R² = 0.890; P < 0.0001) cohorts during the study period. After adjustment for age and sex, patients with PsA had a first arthroplasty incidence rate that was twice that of the general population (IRR 2.01 [95% confidence interval 1.73-2.34]; P < 0.0001), notably beyond the year 2003 when biologic therapies were introduced.

CONCLUSION

Both the general population and patients with PsA have experienced increasing rates of first arthroplasty from 1995 to 2010, although the overall incidence rate was significantly higher for those with PsA.

Termination of pregnancy in women with epilepsy - A retrospective single center study

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are commonly prescribed to women of childbearing age. As 0.3%-0.7% of all pregnancies occur in women with epilepsy (WWE), the effect of recurrent seizures and teratogenicity on pregnancy outcome and the fetus have been widely studied. Most of these studies have focused on live births. A significant number of terminated pregnancies in WWE were ignored in past studies, thus reducing the calculated incidence of congenital malformations and possible influence of AED exposure. We scrutinized the medical records at our medical center for termination of pregnancy (TOP) in WWE for the years 2004-2016. Fifty-eight TOPs occurred in WWE during these years. Reasons for TOP included spontaneous abortions necessitating medical intervention (46.6%), patient's request (31.0%), medically recommended (10.3%), and unknown (12.1%).

Incidence of Childhood Epilepsy in Estonia

The aim of this prospective epidemiological study was to establish the incidence rate of childhood epilepsy in Estonia, to describe the clinical spectrum and to identify etiology of childhood epilepsy. The overall incidence rate was 86.3/100 000. The incidence rate was the highest (141.9/100 000) in the age group from 5 to 9 years. Specific electroclinical syndromes were identified in 22.8% of cases. Structural or metabolic etiology was identified in 20.0% of cases, presumed genetic origin was identified in 33.9% of cases, and in 46.1% of cases the cause of epilepsy remained unknown. The incidence rate of childhood epilepsy in Estonia (86.3/100 000) is similar to the other European countries. In comparison with the results of the first epidemiological study of childhood epilepsy in Estonia (incidence rate 45/100 000; Beilmann et al), the incidence rate in this study is almost 2 times higher, what can be explained with better case collection and improved diagnostic modalities in Estonia.

Depression as a risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based cohort study

Objectives

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased levels of systemic proinflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha. As these cytokines are pathogenic in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), our aim was to explore on a population-level whether MDD increases the risk of developing RA.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database (from 1986 to 2012). Observation time was recorded for both the MDD and referent cohorts until patients developed RA or were censored. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the risk of developing RA among patients with MDD, accounting for age, sex, medical comorbidities, smoking, body mass index and antidepressant use.

Results

A cohort of 403 932 patients with MDD and a referent cohort of 5 339 399 patients without MDD were identified in THIN. Cox proportional hazards models revealed a 31% increased risk of developing RA among those with MDD in an unadjusted model (HR=1.31, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.36, p<0.0001). When adjusting for all covariates, the risk remained significantly increased among those with MDD (HR=1.38, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.46, p<0.0001). Antidepressant use demonstrated a confounding effect that was protective on the association between MDD and RA.

Conclusion

MDD increased the risk of developing RA by 38%, and antidepressants may decrease this risk in these patients. Future research is necessary to confirm the underlying mechanism of MDD on the pathogenesis of RA.

Prevalence of valproate syndrome in Europe from 2005 to 2014: A registry based multi-centre study

Women with epilepsy need to continue to take anticonvulsants during their pregnancies to prevent seizures from occurring. Since the 1980's, it has been known that the use of valproate (an anticonvulsant) in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida. Recent studies have also demonstrated increased risks of other congenital anomalies as well as a risk of cognitive impairment. Doctors in the EU are now advised not to prescribe valproate in pregnant women, in women who can become pregnant or in girls unless other treatments are ineffective or not tolerated. This study aimed to determine if there has been a reduction in the numbers of babies born with valproate syndrome in Europe from 2005 to 2014. Data from 15 European congenital anomaly registries, who are members of EUROCAT (A European network of population-based registries for the epidemiologic surveillance of congenital anomalies), identified 28 cases of valproate syndrome in 2.74 million births from 2005 to 2014. The prevalence of valproate syndrome in Europe significantly decreased from 0.22 per 10,000 births in 2005/6 to 0.03 per 10,000 births in 2013/14. One registry, Ile de la Reunion, had the majority of cases (17). After excluding these cases there still remained a decreasing trend even though it no longer reached statistical significance due to the small number of cases. This study emphasises the continued need for European collaboration in analysing rare exposures and rare anomalies.

Pregnancy outcomes among women with epilepsy: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes between pregnancies that involve epilepsy and those that do not and are identified as normal for the purposes of this paper.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was carried out by accessing the maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) database to identify and review records of singleton pregnancies with epilepsy but with no other underlying disease (study group). A parallel group of low-risk pregnancies was randomly allocated as the control group. The adverse outcomes between the two groups were compared. The primary outcomes included rates of spontaneous abortion, small for gestational age (SGA), preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and preeclampsia.

RESULTS

From a total of 44,708 deliveries, 148 pregnancies involving mothers with epilepsy and a control group of 1480 normal pregnancies were compared. The rates of spontaneous abortion, PTB, LBW, and cesarean section were slightly but significantly higher in the study group with a relative risk of 6.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9-23.3), 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1-2.2), 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1-2.3), and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1-2.1), respectively, whereas other adverse outcomes were comparable. In the subgroup analysis, adverse outcomes tended to be higher in women with active epilepsy. However, only the rates of SGA in the group in which the disorder is active and PTB in the presence of seizures within 6months of conception were significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancies with epilepsy, even in cases with multidisciplinary care and no other risk factors, are still significantly associated with higher adverse outcomes.

The impact of depression and antidepressant usage on primary biliary cholangitis clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND

Depression is prevalent in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients. Our aims were to examine the effects of depression and antidepressants on hepatic outcomes of PBC patients.

METHODS

We used the UK Health Improvement Network database to identify PBC patients between 1974 and 2007. Our primary outcome was one of three clinical events: decompensated cirrhosis, liver transplantation and death. We assessed depression and each class of antidepressant medication in adjusted multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to identify independent predictors of outcomes. In a sensitivity analysis, the study population was restricted to PBC patients using ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

RESULTS

We identified 1,177 PBC patients during our study period. In our cohort, 86 patients (7.3%) had a depression diagnosis prior to PBC diagnosis, while 79 patients (6.7%) had a depression diagnosis after PBC diagnosis. Ten-year incidence of mortality, decompensated cirrhosis, and liver transplantation were 13.4%, 6.6%, and 2.0%, respectively. In our adjusted models, depression status was not a predictor of poor outcomes. After studying all classes of antidepressants, using the atypical antidepressant mirtazapine after PBC diagnosis was significantly protective (Adjusted HR 0.23: 95% CI 0.07-0.72) against poor liver outcomes (decompensation, liver transplant, mortality), which remained statistically significant in patients using UCDA (HR 0.21: 95% CI 0.05-0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, depression was not associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, using the antidepressant mirtazapine was associated with decreased mortality, decompensated cirrhosis and liver transplantation in PBC patients. These findings support further assessment of mirtazapine as a potential treatment for PBC patients.

The Progress of Epilepsy after Stroke

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is the second most common disease caused by multiple factors and characterized by an excessive discharge of certain neurons in the nervous system. Cerebrovascular disease, including stroke, is viewed as the most common cause of epilepsy in the elderly population, accounting for 30%-50% of the newly diagnosed cases of epilepsy cases in this age group.

METHODS

Data were collected from Web of Science, Medline, Pubmed, Scopus, through searching of these keywords: "Stroke" and "epilepsy".

RESULTS

Depending on the underlying cerebrovascular disease, 3%-30% of patients after stroke may develop post-stroke epilepsy (PSE), which has a negative effect on stroke prognosis and the quality of life.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we summarized new aspects emerging from research into PSE, including definition, epidemiology, risk factors, mechanism, accessory examination and treatment strategies for post-stroke epilepsy, which will enrich our knowledge of this disorder.

Intra Nasal In situ Gelling System of Lamotrigine Using Ion Activated Mucoadhesive Polymer

BACKGROUND

A novel drug delivery system for treating acute epileptic condition.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an intranasal mucoadhesive formulation of Lamotrigine (LTG) loaded insitu gel, for the treatment of epilepsy to avoid possible side effects and first pass metabolism associated with conventional treatment.

METHODS

Lamotrigine was loaded into different polymeric solutions of gellan and xanthan gum.

RESULTS

All formulations subjected to various evaluation studies were within their acceptable limits. The pH of formulation ranges between 5.8 ±.001 to 6.8 ±.005 indicating that no mucosal irritation is expected as pH was in acceptable range. Invitro drug release from the mucoadhesive insitu gel formulations showed immediate drug release pattern with a maximum drug release of 97.02 ±0.54% for optimized G5 formulation within 20min. Exvivo permeation studies of optimized formulation G5 and control formulation was estimated. Exvivo permeation studies of G5 insitu formulation done for a period of 12 h resulted in slow, sustained release and greater permeability significance(P <0.05) through nasal mucosa when compared to control. Histopathological studies showed that G5 formulation was safer for nasal administration without any irritation. The stability studies indicated that gels were stable over 45 days in refrigerated condition (4±2ºC).

CONCLUSION

The intranasal insitu gelling system is a promising novel drug delivery system for an antiepileptic drug lamotrigine which could enhance nasal residence time with increased viscosity and mucoadhesive character and provided better release profile of drug for treating acute epileptic conditions.

Teratogenic Effects of Topiramate in a Zebrafish Model

Topiramate is commonly used for treating epilepsy in both children and adults. Recent clinical data suggests that administration of topiramate to women during pregnancy increases the risk of oral clefts in their offspring. To better understand the potential effects of topiramate, we dosed adult female zebrafish with topiramate, and investigated the altered morphologies in adult females and their offspring. It showed that topiramate-treated female fish had reduced oocyte maturation, and the survival rates of their offspring were seriously decreased during embryogenesis. In addition, around 23% of offspring displayed cartilage malformation in the craniofacial area, such as loss of ceratobranchial cartilages as well as impaired ceratohyal, Meckel’s cartilage and ethmoid plate development. Moreover, mineralization of ceratohyal, Meckel’s cartilage, and vertebrae were downregulated during bone development. Taken together, we concluded that topiramate impaired oogenesis in the maternal reproductive system, and then caused offspring cartilage malformation or bone dysplasia.

Lacosamide and concomitant use of antiepileptic and other medications in a US population - A retrospective cohort study

Information on the use of lacosamide and concomitant antiepileptic and non-antiepileptic drugs (non-AEDs) is available from clinical trials and observational studies with small sample sizes. This retrospective cohort study was conducted to gain insight into the use of lacosamide in a large number of patients with epilepsy in real-life clinical practice with less restrictive selection criteria compared with clinical trial participants. The Truven Health MarketScan (Commercial Claims and Medicare Supplemental) database was used to identify patients with a prior diagnosis of epilepsy with at least one prescription claim for lacosamide between June 2009 and September 2013 and continuous health insurance enrolment with medical and pharmacy coverage during the 1-year pre-index baseline period. A total of 8859 eligible patients were identified, of whom, at index (lacosamide initiation), 16.8% received lacosamide as monotherapy and 54.0% as polytherapy. The median prescription duration was 196days (Interquartile range 69-476days). Levetiracetam was the most frequently prescribed concomitant AED across all age groups, followed by phenytoin among older (>65years) and lamotrigine among younger patients. Older patients who had LCM monotherapy at initiation, were prescribed fewer concomitant AEDs, but more non-AEDs. The most common non-AED medications were prescribed for pain, psychiatric conditions, hyperlipidemia and gastrointestinal diseases across all age groups. Overall, results suggest that the lacosamide use is driven predominantly by age and that there is substantial use of lacosamide monotherapy (16.8%), despite lack of indication at the time of the study. Results also reveal substantial use of concomitant non-AEDs; 90.4% among patients >65years of age and 54.3% among those ≤17years, confirming the high prevalence of comorbidities among patients with epilepsy across all ages. Despite the availability of numerous newer AEDs, older AEDs are still being frequently prescribed, especially for elderly patients, notably phenytoin. This warrants careful consideration, given the strong propensity of enzyme-inducing AEDs to interact with other drugs, producing unwanted side effects. These results highlight the value of real-life prescription patterns and the potential in informing treatment decisions to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment.

Subjective sleep disturbance in Chinese adults with epilepsy: Associations with affective symptoms

BACKGROUND

As well as being a very common neurological disease worldwide, epilepsy significantly impairs patients' emotional, behavioral, and cognitive functioning. Sleep disturbances are the most frequent complaint in patients with epilepsy. The present study assesses the impact of a range of affective symptoms on subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbances in Chinese adults with epilepsy.

METHODS

Adults with epilepsy who visited our epilepsy clinic from July 2015 to March 2016 were enrolled in our study. Both patients and healthy controls completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). Subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbances were examined with regard to self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, seizure-related factors, and demographic factors.

RESULTS

The PSQI scores and ISI scores of patients were significantly higher (indicating lower quality sleep and more serious insomnia) than those of the control group. Symptoms associated with depression and anxiety were independently related to impaired subjective sleep quality and insomnia. Affective symptoms explained more of the variance in PSQI scores and ISI scores than did seizure-related or demographic variables. In addition, these variables also seemed to be less powerful contributing factors to subjective sleep quality and insomnia than affective symptoms, several seizure-related factors, such as seizure control, partial seizures and duration of epilepsy, which are also significantly associated with subjective sleep quality and insomnia. In addition, use of lamotrigine (LTG) was also associated with insomnia and use of clonazepam (CZP) and phenobarbital (PB) with daytime sleepiness in patients with epilepsy.

CONCLUSION

Chinese adults with epilepsy have poorer self-reported subjective sleep quality and a higher prevalence of insomnia than the control group. Depressive- and anxiety-related symptoms independently exert an adverse effect on the subjective sleep quality and insomnia of patients. In addition, seizure control, partial seizures, and the duration of epilepsy affect the quality of sleep and insomnia in patients, but seem less powerful predictors of sleep quality and insomnia than affective symptoms. Early identification and treatment of affective symptoms is of great importance in improving the sleep quality and insomnia of patients with epilepsy.

Epilepsy management in older people: Lessons from National Audit of Seizure management in Hospitals (NASH)

PURPOSE

Epilepsy is the third most common diagnosis in older people, however management in this group remains variable. National Audit of Seizure management in Hospitals (NASH) set out to assess care provided to patients attending hospitals in England following a seizure.

METHOD

154 Emergency Departments (EDs) across the UK took part. 1256 patients aged 60 years or over were included for analysis (median age 74 years, 54% men). 51% were known to have epilepsy, 17% had history of previous seizure or blackout and 32% presented with a suspected first seizure.

RESULTS

14% of older patients with epilepsy were not on treatment, 59% were on monotherapy. Sodium valproate was the most commonly used antiepileptic, 28%. 35% of patients with epilepsy, aged 60 and over, had a CT during admission compared to only 17% of those under 60. 80% of patients aged 60 and over presenting with a likely first seizure were admitted to hospital, compared to 65% of those under 60. 34% of those with suspected first seizure were referred to a neurologist on discharge compared to 68% of patients under the age of 60. 52% of 60-69year olds with a suspected first seizure were referred to neurology compared to 25% of patients aged 80-89.

CONCLUSIONS

Older patients presenting with seizures are more likely to be admitted to hospital and have imaging. They are less likely to be referred to specialist services on discharge. There appears to be significant disparity in patient age and rate of referral.