Refine
Document Type
- Article (20)
Has Fulltext
- yes (20)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (20)
Keywords
- Epilepsy (20) (remove)
Institute
- Medizin (20)
Objective: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of generalized convulsive seizure (GCS)-related fractures and injuries during video-EEG monitoring.
Methods: We analyzed all GCSs in patients undergoing video-EEG-monitoring between 2007 and 2019 at epilepsy centers in Frankfurt and Marburg in relation to injuries, falls and accidents associated with GCSs. Data were gathered using video material, EEG material, and a standardized reporting form.
Results: A total of 626 GCSs from 411 patients (mean age: 33.6 years; range 3–74 years; 45.0% female) were analyzed. Severe adverse events (SAEs) such as fractures, joint luxation, corneal erosion, and teeth loosening were observed in 13 patients resulting in a risk of 2.1% per GCS (95% CI 1.2–3.4%) and 3.2% per patient (95% CI 1.8–5.2%). Except for a nasal fracture due to a fall onto the face, no SAEs were caused by falls, and all occurred in patients lying in bed without evidence of external trauma. In seven patients, vertebral body compression fractures were confirmed by imaging. This resulted in a risk of 1.1% per GCS (95% CI 0.5–2.2%) and 1.7% per patient (95% CI 0.8–3.3%). These fractures occurred within the tonic phase of a GCS and were accompanied by a characteristic cracking noise. All affected patients reported back pain spontaneously, and an increase in pain on percussion of the affected spine section.
Conclusions: GCSs are associated with a substantial risk of fractures and shoulder dislocations that are not associated with falls. GCSs accompanied by audible cracking, and resulting in back pain, should prompt clinical and imaging evaluations.
Prospective evaluation of interrater agreement between EEG technologists and neurophysiologists
(2021)
We aim to prospectively investigate, in a large and heterogeneous population, the electroencephalogram (EEG)-reading performances of EEG technologists. A total of 8 EEG technologists and 5 certified neurophysiologists independently analyzed 20-min EEG recordings. Interrater agreement (IRA) for predefined EEG pattern identification between EEG technologists and neurophysiologits was assessed using percentage of agreement (PA) and Gwet-AC1. Among 1528 EEG recordings, the PA [95% confidence interval] and interrater agreement (IRA, AC1) values were as follows: status epilepticus (SE) and seizures, 97% [96–98%], AC1 kappa = 0.97; interictal epileptiform discharges, 78% [76–80%], AC1 = 0.63; and conclusion dichotomized as “normal” versus “pathological”, 83.6% [82–86%], AC1 = 0.71. EEG technologists identified SE and seizures with 99% [98–99%] negative predictive value, whereas the positive predictive values (PPVs) were 48% [34–62%] and 35% [20–53%], respectively. The PPV for normal EEGs was 72% [68–76%]. SE and seizure detection were impaired in poorly cooperating patients (SE and seizures; p < 0.001), intubated and older patients (SE; p < 0.001), and confirmed epilepsy patients (seizures; p = 0.004). EEG technologists identified ictal features with few false negatives but high false positives, and identified normal EEGs with good PPV. The absence of ictal features reported by EEG technologists can be reassuring; however, EEG traces should be reviewed by neurophysiologists before taking action.
Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a multisystem genetic disorder, affects many organs and systems, characterized by benign growths. This German multicenter study estimated the disease-specific costs and cost-driving factors associated with various organ manifestations in TSC patients. Methods: A validated, three-month, retrospective questionnaire was administered to assess the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, organ manifestations, direct, indirect, out-of-pocket, and nursing care-level costs, completed by caregivers of patients with TSC throughout Germany. Results: The caregivers of 184 patients (mean age 9.8 ± 5.3 years, range 0.7–21.8 years) submitted questionnaires. The reported TSC disease manifestations included epilepsy (92%), skin disorders (86%), structural brain disorders (83%), heart and circulatory system disorders (67%), kidney and urinary tract disorders (53%), and psychiatric disorders (51%). Genetic variations in TSC2 were reported in 46% of patients, whereas 14% were reported in TSC1. Mean total direct health care costs were EUR 4949 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) EUR 4088–5863, median EUR 2062] per patient over three months. Medication costs represented the largest direct cost category (54% of total direct costs, mean EUR 2658), with mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors representing the largest share (47%, EUR 2309). The cost of anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) accounted for a mean of only EUR 260 (5%). Inpatient costs (21%, EUR 1027) and ancillary therapy costs (8%, EUR 407) were also important direct cost components. The mean nursing care-level costs were EUR 1163 (95% CI EUR 1027–1314, median EUR 1635) over three months. Total indirect costs totaled a mean of EUR 2813 (95% CI EUR 2221–3394, median EUR 215) for mothers and EUR 372 (95% CI EUR 193–586, median EUR 0) for fathers. Multiple regression analyses revealed polytherapy with two or more ASDs and the use of mTOR inhibitors as independent cost-driving factors of total direct costs. Disability and psychiatric disease were independent cost-driving factors for total indirect costs as well as for nursing care-level costs. Conclusions: This study revealed substantial direct (including medication), nursing care-level, and indirect costs associated with TSC over three months, highlighting the spectrum of organ manifestations and their treatment needs in the German healthcare setting.
Recent data have suggested that performing recanalizing therapies in ischemic stroke might lead to an increased risk of acute symptomatic seizures. This applies to both intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. We therefore determined the frequency of acute symptomatic seizures attributable to these two recanalization therapies using a large, population-based stroke registry in Central Europe. We performed two matched 1:1 case–control analyses. In both analyses, patients were matched for age, stroke severity on admission and pre-stroke functional status. The first analysis compared patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis to a non-recanalization control group. To isolate the effect of mechanical thrombectomy, we compared patients with both mechanical thrombectomy and intravenous thrombolysis to those with only intravenous thrombolysis treatment in a second analysis. From 135,117 patients in the database, 13,356 patients treated with only intravenous thrombolysis, and 1013 patients treated with both intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy were each matched to an equivalent number of controls. Patients with intravenous thrombolysis did not suffer from clinically apparent acute symptomatic seizures significantly more often than non-recanalized patients (treatment = 199; 1.5% vs. control = 237; 1.8%, p = 0.07). Mechanical thrombectomy in addition to intravenous thrombolysis also was not associated with an increased risk of acute symptomatic seizures, as the same number of patients suffered from seizures in the treatment and control group (both n = 17; 1.7%, p = 1). In a large population-based stroke registry, the frequency of clinically apparent acute symptomatic seizures was not increased in patients who received either intravenous thrombolysis alone or in conjunction with mechanical thrombectomy.
Purpose: Epileptic seizures frequently result in distinct physical injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries and minor trauma. The aim of this study was to retrospectively determine the frequent injury patterns due to seizure episode and to analyze consecutive acute medical care.
Methods: This retrospective mono-center study was conducted at Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany between January 2007 and December 2017. Epilepsy patients with seizure-related fractures admitted to the emergency department were identified via a retrospective systematic query in the hospital information system using the ICD-10 German modification codes G40.0–G40.9. Patients with an unclear diagnosis of epilepsy were excluded. Sociodemographic as well as disease specific aspects were analyzed. Descriptive and Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis.
Results: A total number of 62 epilepsy patients were included. The mean age was 58.1 years. Fractures concerned the upper extremity most frequently (43.5%, n = 20), and 70.0% (14/20) were humerus fractures. Admission to intensive care unit for acute trauma care was necessary in 29.0% patients (n = 18), and surgery in 45.2% patients (n = 28). Twenty-five patients (26.6%) showed clinical or radiological signs of traumatic brain injury. Provoking factors were identified in 20 patients (32.3%), i.e., acute withdrawal or excess of alcohol (n = 15), relevant sleep deprivation (n = 2), and intoxication or withdrawal of other illegal drugs or trivial infect (n = 1 for each) and non-compliance with anti-seizure drugs (n = 1). A decreased T-score (−1.04 ± 1.15) and Z-score (−0.84 ± 0.75) compared to healthy subjects were found.
Conclusion: Fractures in upper extremities, trunk and craniocerebral trauma occur frequently as seizure-induced injuries. Alcohol excess and withdrawal are important provoking factors and should be targeted with preventive measurements to avoid seizure related injuries and accidents.
In recent years, the clinical usefulness of the Wada test (WT) has been debated among researchers in the field. Therefore, we aimed to assess its contribution to the prediction of change in verbal learning and verbal memory function after epilepsy surgery. Data from 56 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who underwent WT and subsequent surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Additionally, a standard neuropsychological assessment evaluating attentional, learning and memory, visuospatial, language, and executive function was performed both before and 12 months after surgery. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to determine the incremental value of WT results over socio-demographic, clinical, and neuropsychological characteristics in predicting postsurgical change in patients’ verbal learning and verbal memory function. The incorporation of WT results significantly improved the prediction models of postsurgical change in verbal learning (∆R2 = 0.233, p = .032) and verbal memory function (∆R2 = 0.386, p = .005). Presurgical performance and WT scores accounted for 41.8% of the variance in postsurgical change in verbal learning function, and 51.1% of the variance in postsurgical change in verbal memory function. Our findings confirm that WT results are of significant incremental value for the prediction of postsurgical change in verbal learning and verbal memory function. Thus, the WT contributes to determining the risks of epilepsy surgery and, therefore, remains an important part of the presurgical work-up of selected patients with clear clinical indications.
The present study aims to report the currently available epidemiology of focal onset seizures in children aged >1 month to 4 years with the help of a literature review. The terms ‘seizure*’ OR ‘epilepsy’ combined with pediatric and epidemiology terms were used to search Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science up to November 16, 2021. Due to the scarcity of epidemiology data on focal onset seizures, the incidence and prevalence were estimated using the proportion of focal onset seizures in epilepsy patients from the most recently published articles. The estimated annual incidence per 100,000 children of focal onset seizures in children of 0–4 years of age ranged from 25.1 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 18.9–32.7) in the United Kingdom to 111.8 in the United States. The estimated period prevalence of focal onset seizures in children 0–4 years of age ranged from 0.15 % (99 % CI 0.13–0.18) in Canada to 0.61 % in the United States. Neurodevelopmental outcomes and psychiatric disorders were the most commonly reported comorbidities in children with epilepsy of age 0–4 years. Presence of focal onset seizures in children with different epilepsy syndromes needs to be thoroughly considered in the treatment planning of this population of interest.
Introduction: Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. This study estimated cost, cost-driving factors and quality of life (QoL) in patients with Dravet syndrome and their caregivers in a prospective, multicenter study in Germany.
Methods: A validated 3–12-month retrospective questionnaire and a prospective 3-month diary assessing clinical characteristics, QoL, and direct, indirect and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs were administered to caregivers of patients with DS throughout Germany.
Results: Caregivers of 93 patients (mean age 10.1 years, ±7.1, range 15 months–33.7 years) submitted questionnaires and 77 prospective diaries. The majority of patients (95%) experienced at least one seizure during the previous 12 months and 77% a status epilepticus (SE) at least once in their lives. Over 70% of patients had behavioural problems and delayed speech development and over 80% attention deficit symptoms and disturbance of motor skills and movement coordination. Patient QoL was lower than in the general population and 45% of caregivers had some form of depressive symptoms. Direct health care costs per three months were a mean of €6,043 ± €5,825 (median €4054, CI €4935-€7350) per patient. Inpatient costs formed the single most important cost category (28%, €1,702 ± €4,315), followed by care grade benefits (19%, €1,130 ± €805), anti-epileptic drug (AED) costs (15%, €892 ± €1,017) and ancillary treatments (9%, €559 ± €503). Total indirect costs were €4,399 ±€ 4,989 (median €0, CI €3466-€5551) in mothers and €391 ± €1,352 (median €0, CI €195-€841) in fathers. In univariate analysis seizure frequency, experience of SE, nursing care level and severe additional symptoms were found to be associated with total direct healthcare costs. Severe additional symptoms was the single independently significant explanatory factor in a multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: This study over a period up to 15 months revealed substantial direct and indirect healthcare costs of DS in Germany and highlights the relatively low patient and caregiver QoL compared with the general population.
Purpose: 10-year retrospective study to assess burden of illness in individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) identified from German healthcare data. Methods: Patients with TSC were identified by International Classification of Diseases code Q85.1. Patients with epilepsy were identified by epilepsy diagnosis or antiseizure medication (ASM) prescription after TSC diagnosis. Results: Using data from 2016 (final study year), 100 patients with TSC were identified (mean [range] age: 38 [1–86] years; male: 40%); prevalence: 7.9 per 100,000 (TSC), 2.2 per 100,000 (TSC with epilepsy). During the 10-year study period (2007–2016), 256 patients with TSC were identified and followed up for 1,784 patient- years (epilepsy: 36%, 616 patient-years). TSC manifestations/comorbidities (apart from epilepsy) were identi- fied more frequently in patients with epilepsy than without. Mean annual healthcare costs for patients with TSC were €6,139 per patient-year (PPY), mostly attributable to medication (35%) and inpatient care (29%). Patients with epilepsy incurred costs more than double those without. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) annual hospi- talisation rate (AHR) and length of stay (LOS) PPY: 0.5 (1.0) and 5.9 (18.6) days for TSC. AHR and LOS were greater in patients with epilepsy than without. Mean (SD) number of ASMs prescribed (TSC with epilepsy): 3.0 (2.3) over the entire observable time per patient. Mortality rates (vs. control): 5.08% (vs. 1.69%, p<0.001) for TSC, 7.53% (vs. 0.98%, p<0.001) for TSC with epilepsy, 3.68% (vs. 2.03%, p = 0.003) for TSC without epilepsy. Conclusion: Healthcare costs, resource utilisation, and mortality were greater in patients with TSC and epilepsy than those without epilepsy.
Hintergrund: Das Dravet-Syndrom (DS) ist ein seltenes, in der frühen Kindheit beginnendes, therapierefraktäres Epilepsiesyndrom, das mit einer hohen Morbidität und Mortalität verbunden ist.
Fragestellung: Ziele der Querschnittsstudie „Dravet syndrome caregiver survey“ (DISCUSS) sind die Identifizierung und Beschreibung der Faktoren, die einen Einfluss auf die Krankheitslast von Patienten mit DS und ihre Betreuer haben können. Die Ergebnisse der deutschen Kohorte werden vorgestellt.
Material und Methoden: Die Datenerhebung erfolgte durch eine anonyme Befragung von Eltern. Die Ergebnisse wurden für die verschiedenen Altersgruppen statistisch ausgewertet.
Ergebnisse: Der Fragebogen wurde von 68 Eltern der DS-Patienten mit einem durchschnittlichen Alter von 10 Jahren (Median: 9, Spanne: 1–26) ausgefüllt. Nur 3 Patienten (4,4 %) waren in den letzten 3 Monaten anfallsfrei. Insgesamt hatten 97 % der Patienten, die älter als 5 Jahre waren (n = 45), mindestens eine Komorbidität. Die zum Befragungszeitpunkt am häufigsten eingenommenen Antiepileptika waren Valproat, Kaliumbromid, Stiripentol, Clobazam und Topiramat. In der Vergangenheit wurden Natriumkanalblocker, Phenobarbital und Levetiracetam eingesetzt, aktuell fanden diese Antiepileptika nur selten Verwendung. Die Lebensqualität der Patienten war niedriger als die der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Die Erkrankung eines Familienmitglieds mit DS beeinflusst Eltern und Geschwister in hohem Maße.
Diskussion: Trotz individueller Kombinationstherapien sind die meisten Patienten mit DS nicht anfallsfrei. Insgesamt hat sich der Einsatz von beim DS wenig wirksamer Medikamente und der kontraindizierten Natriumkanalblocker zugunsten von wirksameren Medikamenten verschoben. Neue Therapie- und Versorgungskonzepte sind notwendig, um die Versorgung der Patienten mit DS zu verbessern und Eltern und Geschwister zu entlasten.