The few reports that have been published on the current International Classification of Headache Disorders, Second Edition (ICHD-II), criteria for migralepsy and hemicrania epileptica have highlighted the considerable confusion regarding this “hot topic” within both headache and epilepsy classifications (ICHD-II and International League Against Epilepsy [ILAE]). Indeed, the ICHD-II describes a migraine-triggered seizure as a rare event in which a seizure occurs during migraine aura; on the other hand, hemicrania epileptica is described as an “ictal headache” that occurs “synchronously” with a partial seizure. To confuse matters even further, neither the term migralepsy nor the term hemicrania epileptica is included in the currently used ILAE classification. On the basis of both a review of “migralepsy” cases in the literature and 16 additional retrospective multicenter cases, we suggest that the term migraine-triggered seizure or migralepsy be deleted from the ICHD-II classification until unequivocal evidence is provided of its existence, and that the term ictal epileptic headache be introduced into the ILAE classification

Objectives - The aim of this open label pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) as 'de novo' monotherapy in children and adolescents with late onset childhood occipital epilepsy-Gastaut type (COE-G). Material and methods - Twelve patients suffering from COE-G were enrolled in this prospective study. The age of seizures onset ranged from 6.1 to 16.2 years with a peak of frequency at mean (±SD) 10.54 ± 2.77 years. Therapy with LEV was started at 10 mg/kg/day and, after titration, the final dose was generally achieved within 4 weeks and ranged from 20.7 to 45.2 mg/kg/day. Results - At the 6 month evaluation, 11 (91.6%) of the 12 patients studied were seizure free, and one (8.3%) showed four additional episodes. Electroencephalography (EEG) activity was normal in six (54.5%) patients, unchanged in two (18.1%) children, and in four (33.3%) patients sporadic occipital abnormalities persisted. At the 12-month evaluation all patients were completely seizure free. Four patients (33.3%) continued to show some EEG abnormalities, while eight (72.8%) patients had normal EEG. At the 18-month evaluation all patients were seizure free and 10 patients (83.3%) showed a complete normalization of EEG abnormalities. Discussion - Monotherapy with LEV was effective and well tolerated in patients with COE-G. Nevertheless, prospective, large, long-term double-blind studies are needed to confirm these findings. © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.

Levetiracetam monotherapy for childhood occipital epilepsy of gastaut

VERROTTI A;TOZZI, Elisabetta;
2009-01-01

Abstract

Objectives - The aim of this open label pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) as 'de novo' monotherapy in children and adolescents with late onset childhood occipital epilepsy-Gastaut type (COE-G). Material and methods - Twelve patients suffering from COE-G were enrolled in this prospective study. The age of seizures onset ranged from 6.1 to 16.2 years with a peak of frequency at mean (±SD) 10.54 ± 2.77 years. Therapy with LEV was started at 10 mg/kg/day and, after titration, the final dose was generally achieved within 4 weeks and ranged from 20.7 to 45.2 mg/kg/day. Results - At the 6 month evaluation, 11 (91.6%) of the 12 patients studied were seizure free, and one (8.3%) showed four additional episodes. Electroencephalography (EEG) activity was normal in six (54.5%) patients, unchanged in two (18.1%) children, and in four (33.3%) patients sporadic occipital abnormalities persisted. At the 12-month evaluation all patients were completely seizure free. Four patients (33.3%) continued to show some EEG abnormalities, while eight (72.8%) patients had normal EEG. At the 18-month evaluation all patients were seizure free and 10 patients (83.3%) showed a complete normalization of EEG abnormalities. Discussion - Monotherapy with LEV was effective and well tolerated in patients with COE-G. Nevertheless, prospective, large, long-term double-blind studies are needed to confirm these findings. © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.
2009
The few reports that have been published on the current International Classification of Headache Disorders, Second Edition (ICHD-II), criteria for migralepsy and hemicrania epileptica have highlighted the considerable confusion regarding this “hot topic” within both headache and epilepsy classifications (ICHD-II and International League Against Epilepsy [ILAE]). Indeed, the ICHD-II describes a migraine-triggered seizure as a rare event in which a seizure occurs during migraine aura; on the other hand, hemicrania epileptica is described as an “ictal headache” that occurs “synchronously” with a partial seizure. To confuse matters even further, neither the term migralepsy nor the term hemicrania epileptica is included in the currently used ILAE classification. On the basis of both a review of “migralepsy” cases in the literature and 16 additional retrospective multicenter cases, we suggest that the term migraine-triggered seizure or migralepsy be deleted from the ICHD-II classification until unequivocal evidence is provided of its existence, and that the term ictal epileptic headache be introduced into the ILAE classification
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11697/12988
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