Comparative effects of diazepam infusion and divided doses of diazepam on the treatment of absence status epilepticus

Absence status epilepticus [ASE] is a common form of nonconvulsive status epilepcticus. It is characterized by loss of consciousness with spike and wave discharges in EEG simultaneously. The most effective treatment of ASE is diazepam, either infusion or in divided doses; the former is more expensive since patients must be admitted in an Intensive Care Unit. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of diazepam infusion and parenteral diazepam in divided doses in the treatment of ASE. This randomized controlled clinical trial, enrolled 20 patients with absence status epilepticus. Diagnosis was made based on the clinical manifestations and electroencephalogram [EEG]. Prior to treatment, all patients underwent EEG and imaging. Patients were randomized to receive 0.2 mg/kg/h diazepam infusion or 0.2 mg/kg in six daily doses. Clinical and EEG improvements were considered to be optimal responses. Of the 20 patients studied, 13 [65%] were boys and the remaining 7[35%] were girls. There were no differences between the two groups regarding age and sex [non-significant]. Following treatments after 48 hours, 1 week and 1 month respectively, clinical improvement in previous problems [loss of consciousness, ataxia, behavior and speech problems] and EEGs was similar in both groups [p=1]. There were controlled seizures in 18 [90%], abnormal CT scans in 5 [25%], abnormal EEGs after treatments in 6 [30%] cases; however no significant differences were seen between the two groups. This study demonstrates that there are no significant differences between treatments of ASE with diazepam infusion and parenteral diazepam in divided doses. Treatment of ASE, with divided doses of diazepam is easier, less expensive and patients do not require to be hospitalized in an Intensive Care unit

[Seroepidemiology of human cytomegalovirus in pregnant women and their neonates in kerman city during 2005]

Human Cytomegalovirus [HCMV] or Human Herpes Virus Type-5[HHV-5] is a member of herpesviridae placed in subtype beta herpesvirinae. CMV is a ubiquitous pathogenic virus and can infect humans all through their life. Prevalence of CMV infection in developed countries is about 45% and in developing countries it varies up to 100%. CMV infection during pregnancy is very important, because it can threat life of both mother and her fetus, and it can cause congenital defects. Maternal infection is a determining factor in neonatal infection. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of CMV infection as well as the relationship between underlying factors of this infection in women and their neonates in Kerman. ELISA technique and Diagnostic Kits [EIA WELL, Rome, Italy] were used to determine the seroprevalence of 794 samples [397 maternal, 397 neonatal] collected from 5 delivery centers in Kerman. The frequency distributions of maternal primary infection, secondary infection, immune mothers and seronegative cases were respectively 0.76% [3 cases], 32.24% [128 cases], 59.7% [237 cases] and 7.3% [29 cases]. Seroprevalence rate for CMV-IgG and CMV-IgM of mothers were respectively, 33.8% [134 cases] and 91.94% [365 cases]. No significant relationship was found between CMV infection and factors of mother's age and occupation, husband's occupation, number of children, parity, family income, previous history of abortion, pervious history of blood transfusion and organ transplant, febrile disease during pregnancy and place of residency; however, mother's educational level showed a significant relation [P=0.38]. Due to high prevalence rate of CMV found in this study, further studies about the diagnosis, epidemiology and detection of CMV primary infections in mothers and their neonates, are highly recommended