[Complex partial seizures: the localization value of automatisms]

INTRODUCTION

The clinical findings in complex partial crises may help our understanding of the different foci and vias of epileptogenesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyse automatisms and findings on EEG and neuroimaging in 151 patients with different types of partial epilepsy, seeking to establish a possible correlation between the type of automatism and cerebral localization.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The relative frequency of automatisms was: oro-alimentary 30%, mimicking 11%, gestures 35%, ambulatory 19% and verbal 13%. There was a statistically significant difference between the type of automatism and the topography of the EEG and neuroimaging findings. There were more gesture and oro-alimentary automatisms in patients with temporal anomalies, both on EEG and on neuroimaging, than in those with extratemporal alterations.

[Multiple sclerosis as a cause of partial complex epilepsy]

INTRODUCTION

Although the epileptic seizures (ES) have been described on patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the causal relationship is not clear. Seizure's prevalence in this illness is low and their apparition concerning the MS course is variable, but more common after MS diagnosis. The predominant crises are generalized or partial with secondary generalization; the partial complex seizures have rarely referred.

CLINICAL CASES AND CONCLUSIONS

We presented two patients with ES in the MS course. In the first case is arrived to MS diagnosis upon appearing the crisis, having presented two previous cerebral lesions in another level. In both cases demyelinating lesion was located in the temporal lobe, agreeing with EEG anomaly and seizures type.

[Prognostic value of data from clinical, EEG and neuroimaging assessment in epilepsy with complex partial seizures]

INTRODUCTION

The well-known etiology, length of active epilepsy, partial or mixed seizure types and high frequency of seizures before treatment relate with a worst prognosis for seizures control. We have attempted to prove these factors in our study.

METHOD

We analyzed the electro-clinical characteristics, evolution and etiology of seizures in 151 patient with several type of partial epilepsy. Subsequently, we related the estimated improvement with diverse variables.

RESULTS

A significant statistically difference appeared as for seizures frequency at onset, existing among 15% to 44.3% more patient in which the frequency descended to more of 50% when the initial frequency was more than one to the month. Upon relating the improvement with the MR anomaly also appeared significant difference: there was between 7.9% and 73.7% more patient with hypersignal on long TR sequences in the group that did not decrease the frequency of their crisis to more than 50%.