Relationship of white matter hyperintensities with clinical features of seizures in patients with epilepsy / A relação das hiperintensidades da substância branca com as características clínicas das crises em pacientes com epilepsia

ABSTRACT Background: Although epilepsy is primarily known as a cortical disorder, there is growing body of research demonstrating white matter alterations in patients with epilepsy. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and its association with seizure characteristics in patients with epilepsy. Methods: The prevalence of WMH in 94 patients with epilepsy and 41 healthy controls were compared. Within the patient sample, the relationship between the presence of WMH and type of epilepsy, frequency of seizures, duration of disease and the number of antiepileptic medications were investigated. Results: The mean age and sex were not different between patients and healthy controls (p>0.2). WMH was present in 27.7% of patients and in 14.6% of healthy controls. Diagnosis of epilepsy was independently associated with the presence of WMH (ß=3.09, 95%CI 1.06-9.0, p=0.039). Patients with focal epilepsy had higher prevalence of WMH (35.5%) than patients with generalized epilepsy (14.7%). The presence of WMH was associated with older age but not with seizure characteristics. Conclusions: WMH is more common in patients with focal epilepsy than healthy controls. The presence of WMH is associated with older age, but not with seizure characteristics.

RESUMO Antecedentes: Embora a epilepsia seja principalmente conhecida como um distúrbio cortical, há um crescente corpo de pesquisas que demonstra alterações na substância branca em pacientes com epilepsia. Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência de hiperintensidades da substância branca (WMH) e sua associação com características das crises em pacientes com epilepsia. Métodos: A prevalência de WMH em 94 pacientes com epilepsia e 41 controles saudáveis ​​foi comparada. Na amostra de pacientes, foi investigada a relação entre a presença de WMH e o tipo de epilepsia, a frequência das crises, a duração da doença e o número de medicamentos antiepilépticos. Resultados: A média de idade e o sexo não diferiram entre pacientes e controles saudáveis ​​(p>0,2). WMH estava presente em 27,7% dos pacientes, enquanto em 14,6% dos controles saudáveis. O diagnóstico de epilepsia foi independentemente associado à presença de WMH (ß=3,09, IC95% 1,06-9,0, p=0,039). Pacientes com epilepsia focal apresentaram maior prevalência de WMH (35,5%) do que pacientes com epilepsia generalizada (14,7%). A presença de WMH foi associada à idade avançada, mas não a características das crises. Conclusões: Pacientes com epilepsia focal têm WMH mais comum do que controles saudáveis. A presença de WMH está associada à idade avançada, mas não a características das crises epilépticas.

Voxel-based morphology study of idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients with typical absence seizure / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To observe the alterations in brain gray matter volume(GMV)in idiopathic generalized epilepsy(IGE)patients with typical absence seizure. Methods Nine IGE patients with typical absence seizure and 16 healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited from People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2012 to January 2014. By using a 3. 0T magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and voxel - based morphometry(VBM)method, their whole brain structures and their brain GMV were scanned and analyzed,respectively,then the changes in GMV were observed. Results Compared with healthy control group,brain GMV extensively decreased in IGE patients with typical absence seizure. Thirteen regions with significant differences were as follows:the right rectal gyrus(t = 3. 13,P ﹤0. 01),the left rectal gyrus(t = 4. 82,P ﹤ 0. 01),the right calcarine/ cuneus/ gyrus lingualis/ occipital gyrus/ inferior oc-cipital gyrus(t = 6. 86,P ﹤ 0. 01),right gyrus lingualis(t = 4. 01,P ﹤ 0. 01),the left gyrus lingualis/ inferior occipital gyrus(t = 3. 73,P ﹤ 0. 01),the left inferior occipital gyrus/ gyrus lingualis(t = 5. 42,P ﹤ 0. 01),the left middle occipi-tal gyrus(t = 3. 76,P ﹤ 0. 01),the right middle occipital gyrus/ superior occipital gyrus/ middle temporal gyrus( t =3. 85,P ﹤ 0. 01),left middle temporal gyrus/ superior temporal gyrus(t = 5. 06,P ﹤ 0. 01),the right precuneus/ cuneus (t = 3. 33,P ﹤ 0. 01),and the right superior parietal lo-bule(t = 3. 66,P ﹤ 0. 01),right precentral gyrus(t = 3. 44,P ﹤0. 01),right superior frontal gyrus/ paracentral lobule/ supplementary motor area(t = 3. 50,P ﹤ 0. 01). However,GMV increase was not found. Conclusions Brain GMV extensively decreased in 13 brain regions of IGE patients with typical absence seizure,and among them occipital lobe is the most significant.

The clinical-electroencephalographic features of the 6 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy in adults with phantom absences / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical and electroencephalogram (EEG) features of patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy in adults with phantom absences.Methods Six patients were referred to the clinic of epilepsy from April,2007 to December,2011.They all had clinical assessment,EEG,or video EEG confirming absences seizure.Results Six patients showed the following similar clinical-EEG features:(1) mild ictal impairment of consciousness associated with generalized 3.0-3.5 Hz spike and slow wave discharges; (2) late-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures; (3) absence status epilepticus with or without secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures; (4) generalized discharges were mostly seen in three types in the awaking stage:fragmented discharge (＜4 s),brief discharge (4-10s) and long-time discharge (＞ 10 s).None of the patients had myoclonic jerks or photosensitivity.One patient' s mother had a history of generalized tonic clonic seizures.One patient had a history of children absence epilepsy and one patient had a history of febrile convulsion in the age of 1-3.Conclusion Idiopathic generalized epilepsy with phantom absences has distinct clinical and EEG features and may become a new idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndrome in adults.