Epilepsy: Difference between revisions
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People who have '''epilepsy''' suffer from a abnormality of their brain that causes them to have [[Seizure|seizures]] — generalized convulsions of their body (muscle spasms) or more subtle mental or physical behavioral disturbances lasting from seconds to minutes and typically recurring at varying intervals.<ref name=medplusepilepsy>[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/epilepsy.html Epilepsy.] MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.</ref> Some types of seizures manifest as strange sensations or emotional states, and others, unconsciousness. | |||
In technical terms, the U.S. National Library of Medicine defines epilepsy as "''a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns.''"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2007/MB_cgi?mode=&term=epilepsy |title=Epilepsy|author=National Library of Medicine |accessdate=2007-10-26 |format= |work=}}</ref> | |||
==Classification== | ==Classification== | ||
Revision as of 18:04, 23 May 2008
People who have epilepsy suffer from a abnormality of their brain that causes them to have seizures — generalized convulsions of their body (muscle spasms) or more subtle mental or physical behavioral disturbances lasting from seconds to minutes and typically recurring at varying intervals.[1] Some types of seizures manifest as strange sensations or emotional states, and others, unconsciousness.
In technical terms, the U.S. National Library of Medicine defines epilepsy as "a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns."[2]
Classification
Benign neonatal epilepsy
Partial epilepsy
Febrile seizures
Generalized epilepsy
Landau-Kleffner syndrome
Myoclonic epilepsy
Post-traumatic epilepsy
Reflex epilepsy
Status epilepticus
Treatment
A randomized controlled trial concluded:[3][4]
- For idiopathic generalised epilepsy or difficult to classify epilepsy, "valproate remains the clinically most effective drug, although topiramate may be a cost-effective alternative for some patients".
- For partial seizures, "lamotrigine may be a clinical and cost-effective alternative to the existing standard drug treatment, carbamazepine"
References
- ↑ Epilepsy. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Epilepsy. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
- ↑ Marson AG, Al-Kharusi AM, Alwaidh M, et al (2007). "The SANAD study of effectiveness of valproate, lamotrigine, or topiramate for generalised and unclassifiable epilepsy: an unblinded randomised controlled trial". Lancet 369 (9566): 1016–26. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60461-9. PMID 17382828. Research Blogging. ACP Journal Club summary
- ↑ Marson AG, Appleton R, Baker GA, et al (2007). "A randomised controlled trial examining the longer-term outcomes of standard versus new antiepileptic drugs. The SANAD trial". Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) 11 (37): 1–154. PMID 17903391. [e]