We administered perampanel (PER) to a bedridden 13-year-old male patient with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). The DRPLA diagnosis was based on the presence of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the ATN1 gene. The patient experienced continuous myoclonic seizures and weekly generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCs). PER stopped the patient's myoclonic seizures and reduced the GTCs to fra...

Experimental studies suggest that cytokine production may be triggered by seizure activity. Here we determined the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptor components (sIL-6R and sGp130) in CSF and serum from control subjects and patients after different types of seizures. IL-6 levels were increased after seizures, whereas sIL-6R levels were decreased. Interestingly, the levels o...

We studied possible relations between seizures and problem behavior in 3 adults with developmental disabilities. Each person was observed for between 56 and 92 days to record occurrences of seizures and problem behavior. Results of our descriptive analysis indicated an association between seizures and problem behavior for each participant. For Stan, most problem behavior occurred following abse...

The usefulness of post-ictal serum prolactin changes, as an adjunct, in the differentiation of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and complex partial seizures from hysterical pseudoepileptic seizures, was investigated in a double blind study designed to control for variables known to alter prolactin levels. Significant post-ictal hyper-prolactinemia, with a peak at 20 minutes and a fall towards ...

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical features and genetics of idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE) beginning in adult life. METHODS Consecutive patients with IGE, defined as generalised seizures with spike or polyspike and wave on EEG, were studied in the setting of a first seizure clinic where an early postictal EEG record is part of the protocol. Patients were divided into two groups: "classica...

Two patients in whom consciousness and memory were retained during bilateral clonic or tonic-clonic seizures are reported on, and three patients reported on previously are reviewed. Ictal semiology differed from myoclonic and supplementary motor seizures, which are other seizure types characterised by bilateral motor movements and retained awareness. In the two new patients ictal pain was a pro...

Epilepsy affects approximately two million people in the U.S. About five percent of physician visits and 20% of neurological visits are by people seeking medical advice for the treatment of seizures.1 Approximately two-thirds of epileptic seizures begin in childhood; however, the incidence increases again after age 60, with a peak incidence in persons greater than 70 years of age.2 The term epi...

Carbamazepine in the treatment of generalised tonic clonic seizures in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is characterised by bilateral myoclonic jerks on wakening, and generalised tonic clonic seizures with onset in the mid-teens, which may be preceded by typical absences in 33% of patients.' Findings on EEG include bilateral spikes or multiple spike-slow wave discharges a...