| 1. |
- COMPAGNO STRANDBERG, MARIA, et al.
(författare)
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Evidence-based Anti-seizure Monotherapy in Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy: a New Approach
- 2020
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1600-0404 .- 0001-6314. ; 142:4, s. 323-332
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectivesTo describe the process and results of the updated Swedish practice guidelines for monotherapy in epilepsy.Materials and MethodsThe Swedish Medical Products Agency led the process together with medical experts. Evidence rating in accordance with the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) template was linked to the Cochrane group's GRADE system. Evidence from recently published trials and meta‐analyses was added. A national expert panel participated in the project and contributed their clinical experience.ResultsIn seizures with focal onset, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, or levetiracetam is recommended for children and adults (ILAE level A‐C for adults/Cochrane level strong for children and adults). Oxcarbazepine is an alternative for children, although its level A evidence, in a single class I trial, could relate to poor phenytoin tolerability. Eslicarbazepine acetate, lacosamide, and zonisamide are alternatives for adults and gabapentin for the elderly (ILAE level A). Carbamazepine is not a first choice for the elderly due to its high potential for interactions. In generalized epilepsy with tonic‐clonic seizures (GTC), lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and sodium valproate are recommended for children and adults (ILAE level C‐D/Cochrane level moderate‐strong) although sodium valproate is contraindicated in girls and women of childbearing age unless special considerations are met. Ethosuximide is the first choice in absence epilepsy without GTC (ILAE level A).ConclusionsLamotrigine and levetiracetam can be used as first choice for focal seizures and generalized epilepsy with GTC, suitable in all age‐groups and for both men and women. Recommendations for GTC seizures have lower evidence than those for focal seizures.
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| 2. |
- Ahl, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Immune response in blood before and after epileptic and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
- 2023
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Ingår i: Heliyon. - : Elsevier. - 2405-8440. ; 9:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inflammatory processes may provoke epileptic seizures and seizures may promote an immune reaction. Hence, the systemic immune reaction is a tempting diagnostic and prognostic marker in epilepsy. We explored the immune response before and after epileptic and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Serum samples collected from patients with videoEEG-verified temporal or frontal lobe epilepsy (TLE or FLE) or TLE + PNES showed increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in between seizures (interictally), compared to controls. Patients with PNES had no increase in IL-6. The IL-6 levels increased transiently even further within hours after a seizure (postictally) in TLE but not in FLE patients. The postictal to interictal ratio of additionally five immune factors were also increased in TLE patients only. We conclude that immune factors have the potential to be future biomarkers for epileptic seizures and that the heterogeneity among different epileptic and non-epileptic seizures may be disclosed in peripheral blood sampling independent of co-morbidities.
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| 3. |
- Ahl, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Inflammatory reaction in the retina after focal non-convulsive status epilepticus in mice investigated with high resolution magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging
- 2021
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Ingår i: Epilepsy Research. - : Elsevier. - 0920-1211 .- 1872-6844. ; 176
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pathophysiological consequences of focal non-convulsive status epilepticus (fNCSE) have been difficult to demonstrate in humans. In rats fNCSE pathology has been identified in the eyes. Here we evaluated the use of high-resolution 7 T structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 9.4 T diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for detecting hippocampal fNCSE-induced retinal pathology ex vivo in mice. Seven weeks post-fNCSE, increased number of Iba1+ microglia were evident in the retina ipsilateral to the hemisphere with fNCSE, and morphologically more activated microglia were found in both ipsi- and contralateral retina compared to non-stimulated control mice. T1-weighted intensity measurements of the contralateral retina showed a minor increase within the outer nuclear and plexiform layers of the lateral retina. T1-weighted measurements were not performed in the ipsilateral retina due to technical difficulties. DTI fractional anisotropy(FA) values were discretely altered in the lateral part of the ipsilateral retina and unaltered in the contralateral retina. No changes were observed in the distal part of the optic nerve. The sensitivity of both imaging techniques for identifying larger retinal alteration was confirmed ex vivo in retinitis pigmentosa mice where a substantial neurodegeneration of the outer retinal layers is evident. With MR imaging a 50 % decrease in DTI FA values and significantly thinner retina in T1-weighted images were detected. We conclude that retinal pathology after fNCSE in mice is subtle and present bilaterally. High-resolution T1-weighted MRI and DTI independently did not detect the entire pathological retinal changes after fNCSE, but the combination of the two techniques indicated minor patchy structural changes.
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| 4. |
- Ahl, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Physical Activity Reduces Epilepsy Incidence : a Retrospective Cohort Study in Swedish Cross-Country Skiers and an Experimental Study in Seizure-Prone Synapsin II Knockout Mice
- 2019
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Ingår i: Sports medicine - open. - : Springer. - 2199-1170 .- 2198-9761. ; 5:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Epilepsy patients commonly exercise less than the general population. Animal studies indicate beneficial effects of physical activity in established epilepsy, while its effect on the development is currently less known.METHODS: Here, we investigated the incidence of epilepsy during 20 years in a cohort of participants from the long-distance Swedish cross-country ski race Vasaloppet (n = 197,685) and compared it to the incidence of non-participating-matched controls included in the Swedish population register (n = 197,684). Individuals diagnosed with diseases such as stroke and epilepsy before entering the race were excluded from both groups. Experimentally, we also determined how physical activity could affect the development of epilepsy in epilepsy-prone synapsin II knockout mice (SynIIKO), with and without free access to a running wheel.RESULTS: We identified up to 40-50% lower incidence of epilepsy in the Vasaloppet participants of all ages before retirement. A lower incidence of epilepsy in Vasaloppet participants was seen regardless of gender, education and occupation level compared to controls. The participants included both elite and recreational skiers, and in a previous survey, they have reported a higher exercise rate than the general Swedish population. Sub-analyses revealed a significantly lower incidence of epilepsy in participants with a faster compared to slower finishing time. Dividing participants according to specified epilepsy diagnoses revealed 40-50% decrease in focal and unspecified epilepsy, respectively, but no differences in generalized epilepsy. Voluntary exercise in seizure-prone SynIIKO mice for 1 month before predicted epilepsy development decreased seizure manifestation from > 70 to 40%. Brain tissue analyses following 1 month of exercise showed increased hippocampal neurogenesis (DCX-positive cells), while microglial (Iba1) and astrocytic activation (GFAP), neuronal Map2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor tyrosine receptor kinase B intensity were unaltered. Continued exercise for additionally 2 months after predicted seizure onset in SynIIKO mice resulted in a 5-fold reduction in seizure manifestation (from 90 to 20%), while 2 months of exercise initiated at the time of predicted seizure development gave no seizure relief, suggesting exercise-induced anti-epileptogenic rather than anti-convulsive effect.CONCLUSION: The clinical study and the experimental findings in mice indicate that physical activity may prevent or delay the development of epilepsy.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Compagno Strandberg, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Validation of the Swedish version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, based on people with epilepsy
- 2021
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Ingår i: Epilepsy and Behavior. - : Elsevier BV. - 1525-5050 .- 1525-5069. ; 115
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Title: Validation of the Swedish version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, based on people with epilepsy. Purpose: The aims of the study were to explore the latent structure of the Swedish Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), to investigate its reliability and to identify the extent to which individual factors among people with epilepsy (PWE), as well as their general beliefs about medication, predict their beliefs about their specific anti-seizure drugs (ASDs). Methods: One-hundred and fifty six included study participants diagnosed with epilepsy and with a well-established neurological follow-up completed an array of rating scales. Included were the Swedish BMQ, which captures beliefs about medicines, scales for symptoms of anxiety and depression and sense of self-efficacy, as well as a general questionnaire regarding their social situation in general. Statistical analysis included Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The PCA revealed a two-factor structure for each of the BMQ-subscales with acceptable (BMQ-G) to high (BMQ-S) internal consistency. The only individual factor that predicted variance in beliefs about medication was patient gender, where levels of both anxiety and depression were elevated in women. Conclusion: The Swedish BMQ exhibits psychometric features indicating its reliable use in adult PWE. Our results suggest that the BMQ provides information about the patients’ view of their medication regardless of their general mood and that women hold stronger beliefs of concern beyond influence from their levels of depression and anxiety.
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| 7. |
- Granthon, Cecilia, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced long-term mortality after successful resective epilepsy surgery: a population-based study.
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry. - 0022-3050 .- 1468-330X. ; 95:3, s. 249-255
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated all-cause and epilepsy-related mortality in patients operated with resective epilepsy surgery and in non-operated patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Our hypothesis was that patients who proceed to surgery have lower mortality over time compared with non-operated patients.Data from 1329 adults and children from the Swedish National Epilepsy Surgery Register and 666 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who had undergone presurgical work-up but not been operated were analysed. The operated patients had follow-ups between 2 and 20 years. We used the Swedish Cause of Death Register to identify deaths. Autopsy reports were collected for patients with suspected sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify predictors for mortality and SUDEP.SUDEP accounted for 30% of all deaths. Surgery was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9), also when adjusted for age, sex and tonic-clonic seizures at inclusion. The benefit of surgery seemed to persist and possibly even increase after 15 years of follow-up. Risk factors of mortality for operated patients were persisting seizures and living alone. Of the operated patients, 37% had seizures, and these had a higher risk of mortality (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.0) and SUDEP (HR 3.5, 95% CI 1.7 to 7.3) compared with patients with seizure freedom at last follow-up.In this large population-based epilepsy surgery cohort, operated patients had a lower all-cause mortality compared with non-operated patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Seizure freedom was the most important beneficial factor for both all-cause mortality and SUDEP among operated patients.
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| 8. |
- Grubor, Irena, et al.
(författare)
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Ganglioglioma surgery associated with postoperative status epilepticus : a case report
- 2022
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Ingår i: Acta Epileptologica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2524-4434. ; 4:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Gangliogliomas are brain tumors associated with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. In most cases, seizures improve after surgical treatment. It is still not concluded to what extent the lesion itself or the perilesional area contributes to the epileptogenicity. Case presentation: In the case presented in this report, the patient, a 24-year-old Caucasian male, developed a refractory status epilepticus after a surgical attempt to remove a cerebral ganglioglioma. The postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the lesion was intact, and that inadvertently only the perilesional area and adjacent cortex had been resected. The patient underwent a new surgical procedure where the ganglioglioma was removed, and the status epilepticus cessated. Conclusions: This clinical case suggests that the lesion itself plays an important role in seizure generation and propagation, and notably, that the surrounding cortex by an inhibitory action can act as a gate to seizure spread.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Lampinen, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Tensor-valued diffusion MRI differentiates cortex and white matter in malformations of cortical development associated with epilepsy
- 2020
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Ingår i: Epilepsia. - : Wiley. - 0013-9580 .- 1528-1167. ; 61:8, s. 1701-1713
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Delineation of malformations of cortical development (MCD) is central in presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy. Delineation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be ambiguous, however, because the conventional T-1- and T-2-weighted contrasts depend strongly on myelin for differentiation of cortical tissue and white matter. Variations in myelin content within both cortex and white matter may cause MCD findings on MRI to change size, become undetectable, or disagree with histopathology. The novel tensor-valued diffusion MRI (dMRI) technique maps microscopic diffusion anisotropy, which is sensitive to axons rather than myelin. This work investigated whether tensor-valued dMRI may improve differentiation of cortex and white matter in the delineation of MCD. Methods Tensor-valued dMRI was performed on a 7 T MRI scanner in 13 MCD patients (age = 32 +/- 13 years) featuring periventricular heterotopia, subcortical heterotopia, focal cortical dysplasia, and polymicrogyria. Data analysis yielded maps of microscopic anisotropy that were compared with T-1-weighted and T-2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images and with the fractional anisotropy from diffusion tensor imaging. Results Maps of microscopic anisotropy revealed large white matter-like regions within MCD that were uniformly cortex-like in the conventional MRI contrasts. These regions were seen particularly in the deep white matter parts of subcortical heterotopias and near the gray-white boundaries of focal cortical dysplasias and polymicrogyrias. Significance By being sensitive to axons rather than myelin, mapping of microscopic anisotropy may yield a more robust differentiation of cortex and white matter and improve MCD delineation in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy.
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