5-17-14 Follow-up of 256 patients with epilepsy treated with new anticonvulsant drugs in a developing country

Saidón, P.; Giagante, Brenda; González, Lucía Ferreira; DiEgidio, M.; Berardo, R.; Centurión, E.; Silva, Widholzer Débora da; Consalvo, D.; Kochen, Sara Silvia

doi:10.1016/s0022-510x(97)86365-4

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In our environment, this percentage becomes even more relevant in view of the social and economic difficulties for the implementation of treatment. As reported by Saidon et al (28), in Argentina only 9% of the patients with refractory epilepsy were treated with new AEDs, mainly for economic reasons, even more so, taking into account that new AEDs are more expensive in Argentina than in developed countries (29). Furthermore, in this study four patients with pure NESs were treated pharmacologically for status epilepticus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Clinical Features and Prognosis of Nonepileptic Seizures in a Developing Country

et al. 2001

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary:Purpose: To determine the predictive value of clinical features and medical history in patients with nonepileptic seizures (NESs).Methods: One hundred sixty-one consecutive ictal videoEEGs were reviewed, and 17 patients with 41 NESs identified. NES diagnosis was defined as paroxysmal behavioral changes suggestive of epileptic seizures recorded during video-EEG without any electrographic ictal activity. Clinical features, age, sex, coexisting epilepsy, associated psychiatric disorder, social and economic factors, delay in reaching the diagnosis of NES, previous treatment, and correlation with outcome on follow-up were examined.Results: The study population included 70% female patients with a mean age of 33 years. Mean duration of NESs before diagnosis was 9 years. Forty-one percent had coexisting epilepsy. The most frequent NES clinical features were tonicclonic mimicking movements and fear/anxiety/hyperventilation. The most common psychiatric diagnosis was conversion disorder and dependent and borderline personality disorder. Seventy-three percent of patients with pure NESs received antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and 63.5% of this group received new AEDs. Fifty-nine percent of the patients received psychological/psychiatric therapy. At follow-up, 23.5% were free of NESs.Conclusions: All seizure-free patients had two good prognostic factors: having an independent lifestyle and the acceptance of the nonepileptic nature of the episodes. Video-EEG monitoring continues to be the diagnostic method to ensure accurate seizure classification. Establishing adequate health care programs to facilitate access to new technology in public hospitals as well as the implementation of continuous education programs for general practitioners and neurologists could eventually improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with NESs.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%