[Intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring for patients with complicated epilepsy: our experience with the first 50 patients in the San Juan City Hospital]. / Monitoría intensiva neurodiagnóstica para pacientes con epilepsia complicada: experiencia con los primeros cincuenta pacientes en el Hospital Municipal de San Juan.

This is a descriptive study with the purpose of reporting the most important clinical findings observed upon admission of the first fifty patients to the Epilepsy Intensive Monitoring Unit. For example: Reason for referral, history, distribution by age and sex, precipitating factors and diagnostic study findings. The utility of intensive monitoring is evidenced in the diagnosis and management of patients with complicated epilepsy and in the diagnosis of other neurologic conditions as are movement disorders; tics and other. With the use of this technic, 68% of the patients were correctly diagnosed, which provided for adequate recommendation of the optimal therapeutic regimen.

Rett syndrome. The Puerto Rican experience.

We have diagnosed and followed four Puerto Rican females with Rett Syndrome (RS). Their ages, when first examined, ranged from 10 months to 11 years. The classical symptoms of decreasing head size, onset of hand wringing movements with deterioration of milestones as well as EEG abnormalities were present in all. Case No. 1, considered our index case was evaluated by us and lost to follow-up for many years while residing in the mainland U.S.A. where multiple evaluations failed to give a definite diagnosis. Upon her return to Puerto Rico she was diagnosed by us in retrospect as having RS. These are the first Puerto Rican girls reported with RS and in doing so we hope for a better understanding of the syndrome by our medical community. Because of the devastating effects of RS, early diagnosis and parental counseling will be beneficial for patients and their families.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome: an underdiagnosed disorder

El síndrome de Gilles de la Tourette es un desorden caracterizado por múltiples tics motores y vocales. Presentamos cinco casos seguidos de una discusión de la condición con atención al diagnóstico y diferencial