Epilepsia
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Being a woman with epilepsy is not the same as being a man with epilepsy. Epilepsy affects sexual development, menstrual cycle, aspects of contraception, fertility, and reproduction. MENSTRUAL CYCLE, EPILEPSY, AND FERTILITY: The diagnosis of epilepsy and the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) present women of childbearing age with many problems; both the disease and its treatment can alter the menstrual cycle and fertility. ⋯ MENOPAUSE: During menopause, about 40% of women report worsening of their seizure disorder, 27% improve, and a third had no change. Hormone replacement therapy is significantly associated with an increase in seizure frequency during menopause, and this is more likely in women with a history of catamenial epilepsy. BONE HEALTH: Women with epilepsy are at increased risk of fractures, osteoporosis, and osteomalacia.
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Review Practice Guideline Guideline
Efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs, I: Treatment of new-onset epilepsy: report of the TTA and QSS Subcommittees of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society.
To assess the evidence demonstrating efficacy, tolerability, and safety of seven new antiepileptic drugs [AEDs; gabapentin (GBP), lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), tiagabine (TGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV), and zonisamide (ZNS), reviewed in the order in which these agents received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration] in the treatment of children and adults with newly diagnosed partial and generalized epilepsies. ⋯ The results of this evidence-based assessment provide guidelines for the prescription of AEDs for patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and identify those seizure types and syndromes for which more evidence is necessary.
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Review Practice Guideline Guideline
Efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs, II: Treatment of refractory epilepsy: report of the TTA and QSS Subcommittees of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society.
To assess the evidence demonstrating efficacy, tolerability, and safety of seven new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) [gabapentin (GBP), lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), tiagabine (TGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV), and zonisamide (ZNS)] in the treatment of children and adults with refractory partial and generalized epilepsies. ⋯ The choice of AED depends on seizure and/or syndrome type, patient age, concomitant medications, and AED tolerability, safety, and efficacy. The results of this evidence-based assessment provide guidelines for the prescription of AEDs for patients with refractory epilepsy and identify those seizure types and syndromes for which more evidence is necessary.
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Pregabalin is a potent ligand for the alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels in the central nervous system that exhibits potent anticonvulsant, analgesic, and anxiolytic activity in a range of animal models. In addition, pregabalin has been shown to be a highly effective adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in clinical trials. Potent binding to the alpha-2-delta site reduces depolarization-induced calcium influx with a consequential modulation in excitatory neurotransmitter release. ⋯ Therefore, pregabalin is unlikely to cause, or be subject to, pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions--an expectation that has been confirmed in clinical pharmacokinetic studies. However, dose adjustment may be necessary in patients with renal insufficiency. Thus, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic profiles of pregabalin provide a predictable basis for its use in clinical practice.
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Magnetoencephalography (MEG)-also known as magnetic source imaging when combined with magnetic resonance imaging-has developed to the point that it has now entered routine clinical application. Epilepsy MEG studies show that it can accurately localize spike sources--both ictal and interictal--as compared to both direct (intracranial EEG) and indirect (imaging abnormalities) measures. ⋯ Magnetoencephalography not only provides a novel tool to localize and characterize epileptiform disturbances, it also has an important role in determining the significance of abnormalities seen on both structural and functional imaging. Combined with mapping of normal or eloquent brain function, MEG should ultimately play a major role in the totally noninvasive epilepsy surgery evaluation.