The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) seizure classification scheme has been periodically updated to improve its reliability and applicability to clinicians and researchers alike. Here, members of the Epilepsy Study Consortium propose a pragmatic seizure classification.
Pediatric Epilepsy
Pediatric epilepsy is often associated with diminished health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Our aim was to establish the validity of the Pediatric Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System Quality of Life (PELHS-QOL-2) questions, a novel two-item HRQOL prompt for children with epilepsy, primarily for use in clinical care.
There are few data on adults living with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), with most studies focusing on pediatric populations. The objective of our study was to examine a large national cohort of adults with TSC, and to describe the clinical characteristics of these adults and the nature of the multidisciplinary care that they receive.
We share a thank you message, highlight a CURE Epilepsy Champion, and share important dates in 2022 in this month's CURE Epilepsy Update.
Genetics
Genetic testing in people with epilepsy may support presurgical decision-making. It is currently unclear to what extent epilepsy centres use genetic testing in presurgical evaluation.
Persons with epilepsy (PWE) often report that seizure triggers can influence the occurrence and timing of seizures. Some previous studies of seizure triggers have relied on retrospective daily seizure diaries or surveys pertaining to all past seizures, recent and/or remote, in respondents. To assess the characteristics of seizure triggers at the granularity of individual seizures, we used a seizure-tracking app, called EpiWatch, on a smart watch system (Apple Watch and iPhone) in a national study of PWE.
A surgical treatment commonly used to reduce epileptic seizures in adults also is effective and safe for children, according to a Rutgers study.
Aggression is the most commonly encountered antiepileptic-drug (AED)-induced psychiatric adverse effects. Levetiracetam (LEV) is well known to be associated with increased rates of aggression, while perampanel (PER) is also recognized as a potentially aggression-promoting agent, though opinions vary. However, few studies have addressed questions regarding whether the nature of irritability-aggression differs between those drugs.
SUDEP
The first study of the Portuguese team entitled "Heart rate variability in patients with refractory epilepsy: The influence of generalized convulsive seizures" focused on GCS. These are characterized by stiffing of all the muscles in the body (tonic) and the rapid movement of arms and legs (clonic). The team studied cardiac changes in patients with refractory epilepsy, later comparing the results with the general population.
