The semiology of benign focal epilepsy with affective symptoms.

Benign focal epilepsy with affective symptoms (BFEAS) is a rare childhood epilepsy syndrome essentially characterized by "epileptic attacks with affective symptoms of a terrifying type". Since the original description, approximately 50 cases have been reported. To our knowledge, however, none of the studies included video-EEG data. Herein, we detail the electroclinical features of a neurodevelopmentally normal 9-year-old boy with epilepsy since the age of 2 years. His seizure semiology essentially consisted of nocturnal focal seizures featuring abrupt fear and autonomic phenomena (such as excessive sweating, repeated swallowing, and coughing), associated with impaired consciousness. These seizures were often secondary generalized, and he had multiple episodes of convulsive status epilepticus. He has been seizure-free for the past year and a half on dual antiepileptic therapy with sulthiamine and valproate. His intellectual and social abilities are excellent (IQ of 116), although he does have difficulties particularly in language learning, and was recently diagnosed with phonological dyslexia with dysorthography. By presenting our patient's history and video-EEG, we intend to further detail the semiology of seizures with affective symptomatology. [Published with video sequence on www.epilepticdisorders.com].

["Hot-water epilepsy ", "warm-water epilepsy", or bathing epilepsy? Report of three cases and considerations regarding an old theme].

Partial and generalized tonic-clonic reflex seizures related to hot water bathing have been described as temperature-related. We describe three cases of bathing epilepsy: a 28 year-old white male and a 30 year-old white female with spells triggered either by warm or hot water, and a 32 year-old female with spells triggered by hot water. The later two of the three cases presented localized epilepsy and a familial history of epilepsy. A complex tactile stimuli might play the most relevant role on seizure triggering, as well as water temperature with an additive effect over cutaneous stimulation.

"Hot-water epilepsy ", "warm-water epilepsy", or bathing epilepsy? Report of three cases and considerations regarding an old theme

Crises reflexas a banhos quentes, tônicas-clônicas parciais e generalizadas foram descritas como relacionadas à temperatura. Descrevemos três casos de epilepsia do banho quente: um homem de 28 anos e uma mulher de 30 anos com crises provocadas por contato com água morna ou quente e uma mulher de 32 anos com crises ao contato com água quente. Os últimos dois casos apresentaram epilepsia localizada e um histórico familiar de epilepsia. Nesta forma de epilepsia, um estímulo táctil complexo parece ter o papel mais relevante na precipitação das crises, sendo potencializado pela temperatura da água.

[Functional magnetic resonance imaging in the determination of dominant language cerebral area]. / Ressonância magnética funcional na determinação da lateralização da área cerebral da linguagem.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique for detecting minimal changes in brain perfusion and oxygenation secondary to neuronal activation. Its application in the pre-surgical evaluation of epileptic patients with temporal mesial sclerosis is currently being under investigation in several centers. This study aims to describe an activation paradigm for the evaluation of language and memory functions, as an alternative to the worldwide used Wada test, which is an invasive procedure. In order to propose a paradigm adapted to the Portuguese language, we report our experience in determining the dominant cerebral area for language through fMRI with a verbal fluency task. The results of the fMRI from 19 patients studied in Curitiba in a period of approximately two years were studied. Sixteen of them presented with left hemispheric cerebral language dominance. In five patients, results from fMRI and Wada test could be compared and agreed in localization. Our results reinforce the view that fMRI may become an essential tool for medical practice, perhaps for the determination of eloquent areas in the evaluation of candidates for epilepsy surgery.

Ressonância magnética funcional na determinação da lateralização da área cerebral da linguagem / Functional magnetic resonance imaging in the determination of dominant language cerebral area

A ressonância magnética funcional (RMF) é uma nova técnica capaz de detectar pequenas alterações no fluxo sanguíneo e oxigenação de tecidos cerebrais em que ocorre ativação neuronal. O seu emprego na avaliação pré-cirúrgica de pacientes com epilepsia portadores de esclerose mesial temporal está atualmente em avaliação em alguns centros de neurologia. O principal objetivo é encontrar o melhor paradigma de ativação na avaliação das funções de linguagem e memória, visando a substituição do teste de Wada, largamente utilizado nos dias de hoje. Para formular um paradigma já adaptado ao nosso idioma, apresentamos a nossa experiência em uma tarefa comportamental de fluência verbal na determinação da lateralização da área cerebral da linguagem. Avaliaram-se os exames de RMF de uma clínica de imagem particular em Curitiba por período de aproximadamente dois anos. Dos 19 pacientes estudados, obteve-se sucesso no exame em 16 e, destes, todos apresentavam dominância hemisférica cerebral da linguagem à esquerda. Em um subgrupo com 5 pacientes foi possível comparar os resultados obtidos com a técnica de Wada e RMF, havendo concordância entre as técnicas. A partir deste estudo e de vários outros semelhantes na literatura, acreditamos que a RMF está progressivamente conquistando seu espaço na prática médica.