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DiFrancesco JC, Isella V, Licciardo D, Crivellaro C, Musarra M, Guerra L, Salvadori N, Chipi E, Calvello C, Costa C, Ferrarese C. Temporal lobe dysfunction in late-onset epilepsy of unknown origin. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 117:107839. [PMID: 33611099 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.107839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Epilepsy with onset in the adulthood is an increasing health problem, due to the progressive aging of the worldwide population. Whether the causes remain undetermined, the disease is defined as Late-Onset Epilepsy of Unknown origin (LOEU). The aim of this study was to evaluate the semiological, electroencephalographic, metabolic, and neuropsychological features of LOEU. METHODS We selected patients with late-onset epilepsy (LOE) (≥55 years), whose causes of the disease have been excluded with a deep clinical-instrumental characterization, including brain MRI, EEG, 18F-labeled fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS Twenty-three LOEU cases were retrospectively recruited. Half presented focal-onset seizures (FOS), the others focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS). All demonstrated a mild phenotype, with no recurrence of seizures on single antiseizure treatment at prolonged follow-up. Brain MRI scans were normal in 12 patients (52.3%) and showed nonspecific gliosis or mild atrophy in ten (43.5%); hippocampal sclerosis (HS) was observed in one. In 17/23 (73.9%), the EEG showed slow and/or epileptiform activity of the temporal areas. Brain FDG-PET revealed temporal lobe hypometabolism, mostly ipsilateral to EEG abnormal activity, or multifocal temporal and extra-temporal (cortical, subcortical and subtentorial) clusters of hypometabolism. The neuropsychological analysis demonstrated three different profiles: normal (43.5%), with focal deficits (39.1%) or mild multidomain impairment (17.4%). SIGNIFICANCE Late-Onset Epilepsy of Unknown origin can present as FOS or FBTCS, both with good prognosis. The application of metabolic imaging and neurophysiology techniques in these patients points to the dysfunction of the temporal structures, whose role in the pathogenetic process of the disease remains to be clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo C DiFrancesco
- Department of Neurology, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Italy.
| | - Valeria Isella
- Department of Neurology, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Italy.
| | - Daniele Licciardo
- Department of Neurology, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Italy
| | - Cinzia Crivellaro
- Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Italy; Nuclear Medicine Unit, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Monica Musarra
- Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Italy; Nuclear Medicine Unit, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Luca Guerra
- Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Italy; Nuclear Medicine Unit, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Nicola Salvadori
- Neurology Unit, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elena Chipi
- Neurology Unit, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carmen Calvello
- Neurology Unit, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Costa
- Neurology Unit, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carlo Ferrarese
- Department of Neurology, ASST S. Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Italy
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Zhao D, Shridharmurthy D, Alcusky MJ, Yuan Y, Nunes AP, Hume AL, Baek J, Lapane KL. The Prevalence and Factors Associated with Antiepileptic Drug Use in US Nursing Home Residents. Drugs Aging 2020; 37:137-145. [PMID: 31845208 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-019-00732-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are commonly used by nursing home residents, both on- and off-label. The landscape of AED use has changed over the past two decades; however, despite this, contemporaneous research on AED use in US nursing home residents is scant. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of AED use, describe prescribing patterns, identify factors associated with AED use, and assess whether these factors differ among AEDs with expanded indications in older adults (i.e. gabapentin, pregabalin, topiramate, and lamotrigine). METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among 549,240 long-stay older residents who enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and lived in 15,111 US nursing homes on 1 September 2016. Demographics and conditions associated with AED indications, epilepsy comorbidities, and safety data came from the Minimum Data Set Version 3.0 (MDS 3.0). Medicare Part D claims were used to identify AED use. Robust Poisson models and multinomial logistic models for clustered data estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), adjusted odds ratios (aOR), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Overall, 24.0% used AEDs (gabapentin [13.3%], levetiracetam [4.7%], phenytoin [1.9%], pregabalin [1.8%], and lamotrigine [1.2%]). AED use was associated with epilepsy (aPR 3.73, 95% CI 3.69-3.77), bipolar disorder (aPR 1.20, 95% CI 1.18-1.22), pain (aPRmoderate/severe vs. no pain 1.42, 95% CI 1.40-1.44), diabetes (aPR 1.27, 95% CI 1.26-1.28), anxiety (aPR 1.12, 95% CI 1.11-1.13), depression (aPR 1.17, 95% CI 1.15-1.18), or stroke (aPR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.09). Residents with advancing age (aPR85+ vs. 65-74 years 0.73, 95% CI 0.73-0.74), Alzheimer's disease/dementia (aPR 0.87, 95% CI 0.86-0.88), or cognitive impairment (aPRsevere vs. no impairment 0.62, 95% CI 0.61-0.63) had decreased AED use. Gabapentinoid use was highly associated with pain (aORmoderate/severe vs. no pain 2.07, 95% CI 2.01-2.12) and diabetes (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.76-1.82), but not with an epilepsy indication. CONCLUSIONS AED use was common in nursing homes, with gabapentin most commonly used (presumably for pain). That multiple comorbidities were associated with AED use underscores the need for future studies to investigate the safety and effectiveness of AED use in nursing home residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Zhao
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| | - Divya Shridharmurthy
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Matthew J Alcusky
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Yiyang Yuan
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Anthony P Nunes
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Anne L Hume
- Department of Family Medicine, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, 02903, USA.,Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jonggyu Baek
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Kate L Lapane
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
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Use of Central Nervous System (CNS) Medicines in Aged Care Homes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8091292. [PMID: 31450830 PMCID: PMC6780105 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8091292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both old age and institutionalization in aged care homes come with a significant risk of developing several long-term mental and neurological disorders, but there has been no definitive meta-analysis of data from studies to determine the pooled estimate of central nervous system (CNS) medicines use in aged care homes. We conducted this systematic review to summarize the use of CNS drugs among aged care homes residents. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) databases were searched (between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2018) to identify population-based studies that reported the use of CNS medicines in aged care homes. Pooled proportions (with 95% confidence interval), according to study location were calculated. RESULTS A total of 89 studies reported the use of CNS medicines use in aged care. The pooled estimate of CNS drugs use varied according to country (from 20.3% in Ireland to 49.0% in Belgium) and region (from 31.7% in North America to 42.5% in Scandinavia). The overall pooled estimate of psychotropic medicines use was highest in Europe (72.2%, 95% CI, 67.1-77.1%) and lowest in ANZ region (56.9%, 95% CI, 52.2-61.4%). The pooled estimate of benzodiazepines use varied widely from 18.9% in North America to 44.8% in Europe. The pooled estimate of antidepressants use from 47 studies was 38.3% (95% CI 35.1% to 41.6%) with highest proportion in North America (44.9%, 95% CI, 35.3-54.5%). CONCLUSION The overall use of CNS drugs varied among countries, with studies from Australia-New Zealand reported the lowest use of CNS drugs. The criteria for prescribing CNS drugs in clinical practice should be evidence-based. The criteria should be used not to prohibit the use of the listed medications but to support the clinical judgement as well as patient safety.
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Co-morbidity and clinically significant interactions between antiepileptic drugs and other drugs in elderly patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2017. [PMID: 28622547 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A study was conducted to investigate the frequency of potential pharmacokinetic drug-to-drug interactions in elderly patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. We also investigated co-morbid conditions associated with epilepsy. METHOD From the register of Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) we identified community-dwelling patients aged 65 or above with newly diagnosed epilepsy and in whom use of the first individual antiepileptic drug (AED) began in 2000-2013 (n=529). Furthermore, register data of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland were used for assessing potential interactions in a nationwide cohort of elderly subjects with newly diagnosed epilepsy. We extracted all patients aged 65 or above who had received special reimbursement for the cost of AEDs prescribed on account of epilepsy in 2012 where their first AED was recorded in 2011-2012 as monotherapy (n=1081). Clinically relevant drug interactions (of class C or D) at the time of starting of the first AED, as assessed via the SFINX-PHARAO database, were analysed. RESULTS Hypertension (67%), dyslipidemia (45%), and ischaemic stroke (32%) were the most common co-morbid conditions in the hospital cohort of patients. In these patients, excessive polypharmacy (more than 10 concomitant drugs) was identified in 27% of cases. Of the patients started on carbamazepine, 52 subjects (32%) had one class-C or class-D drug interaction and 51 (31%) had two or more C- or D-class interactions. Only 2% of the subjects started on valproate exhibited a class-C interaction. None of the subjects using oxcarbazepine displayed class-C or class-D interactions. Patients with 3-5 (OR 4.22; p=0.05) or over six (OR 8.86; p=0.003) other drugs were more likely to have C- or D-class interaction. The most common drugs with potential interactions with carbamazepine were dihydropyridine calcium-blockers, statins, warfarin, and psychotropic drugs. CONCLUSIONS Elderly patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy are at high risk of clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interactions with other drugs, especially if exposed to carbamazepine, but these interactions can be controlled via rational drug choices and with prediction of the possible drug-to-drug interactions. Patients on dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers, statins, warfarin, and risperidone face the highest risk of interactions.
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Callegari C, Ielmini M, Bianchi L, Lucano M, Bertù L, Vender S. Antiepileptic drug use in a nursing home setting: a retrospective study in older adults. FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY 2017; 31:87-93. [PMID: 27358221 DOI: 10.11138/fneur/2016.31.2.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The authors set out to examine qualitatively the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in a population of older adults in a nursing home setting, evaluating aspects such as specialist prescriptions and changes in dosage. This retrospective prevalence study was carried out in a state-funded nursing home that provides care and rehabilitation for elderly people. The first objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of AED use in this population. The second objective was to monitor AED dosage modifications during the fifteen-month study period, focusing on the safety and the tolerability of AEDs. In the period of time considered, 129 of 402 monitored patients received at least one anti-epileptic therapy. The prevalence of AED use was therefore 32%. Gabapentin was found to be the most commonly prescribed drug, with a frequency of 29%, and it was used mainly for anxiety disorders, psychosis, neuropathic pain and mood disorders.
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Giorgi FS, Guida M, Vergallo A, Bonuccelli U, Zaccara G. Treatment of epilepsy in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Expert Rev Neurother 2016; 17:309-318. [DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2017.1243469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa-Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Melania Guida
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa-Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa-Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ubaldo Bonuccelli
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa-Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gaetano Zaccara
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Florence Health Authority, Firenze, Italy
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