ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To clarify the possible role of other factors including the ApoE epsilon4 allele for memory decline in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: We conducted a neuropsychological and molecular study in 138 consecutive patients (78 female patients; mean age, 50.2 years, SD +/- 17.9; range, 14 to 87 years) with mild nonlesional TLE, who rarely or never had seizures at long-term follow-up. The mean age at seizure onset was 33.0 years (SD, +/-21.7), and the mean duration of epilepsy was 17.1 years (SD, +/-15.7). RESULTS: Thirty-four (25%) of 138 patients had test scores indicating verbal learning deficit (VLD). The presence of an ApoE epsilon4 allele was associated with an increased risk of VLD (OR, 4.18; 95% CI, 1.66-10.55). The effect of the ApoE genotype was independent of both the age at epilepsy onset and disease duration as well as of a low educational level, which were separately associated with VLD (p values = 0.045, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). A significant linear trend (p = 0.005) was seen in the relation between disease duration and cognitive impairment, with the highest risk being in patients with an epilepsy duration > or =25.5 years (OR, 7.06; 95% CI, 1.67-29.85), especially if they carried the epsilon4 allele (OR, 32.29; 95% CI, 5.23-195.72). CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence for an alteration in cognitive performance as a function of the presence of the ApoE epsilon4 allele and point to the critical role of disease duration itself for cognitive impairment in TLE.
Subject(s)
Apolipoproteins E/genetics , Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/genetics , Neuropsychological Tests , Verbal Learning/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age of Onset , Aged , Apolipoprotein E4 , Cognition Disorders/genetics , Educational Status , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/diagnosis , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genetic Testing , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To report on five patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) as the unique manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Among 350 consecutive MS patients, we identified 16/350 (4.6%) who also had epileptic seizures. Here, we review their electrophysiological and clinical features. RESULTS: Five of these 16 patients (four female, one male; mean age 34.2 years; range 31 to 38) with MS and epileptic seizures had an extremely homogeneous clinical picture characterized by TLE as the unique manifestation of MS, even at long follow-up (mean: five years; range 4 to 10). In all patients, seizures started in the second or third decade. Brain MRI revealed at least one juxta-cortical lesion within the temporal region. Antiepileptic medication was always effective. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides the first evidence of a peculiar form of MS characterized by TLE as the unique manifestation of the disease with no disability or MS relapses at long-term follow-up.
