The material provides a brief overview of authors composition (geography, affiliations) and distribution channels for “Epilepsy and Paroxysmal Conditions” journal content. Information on the number of published studies and relevant temporal citation pattern is provided. The journal is characterized by a wide geography of author groups as well as a steady growth in readership and article citation. The results of the 2024–2025 International Contest of Scholarly Articles are also summarized, the winners in the categories “Original article”, “Review article” as well as the additional nomination “For contribution to the journal development” are named. This information will serve as a valuable landmark for authors-to-be in determining whether the topic and level of their manuscripts are suitable, as well as in choosing options to accelerate editorial process and expand readership: Online First, Fast Track, and full text publication in Russian and English.

Background. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a high-priority issue in pediatric neurology that develops in 30–67% of cases compared to 0.4–0.8% in general population. Studying risk factors and determining clinical characteristics of children with CP may aid in early epilepsy prevention and diagnostics in this group.

Objective: Studying risk factors and developing a model for predicting development of epilepsy in children with CP.

Material and methods. There were examined 128 CP children aged 1 to 6 years divided into two groups: Group 1 included 65 patients with CP and epilepsy (27 of whom (39.7%) had a drug-resistant epilepsy), and Group 2 included 63 children with CP. All patients underwent routine electroencephalography (EEG) and video-EEG monitoring, as well as brain magnetic resonance imaging to verify epilepsy diagnosis. Regression coefficients were presented in a multivariate binary logistic regression model for predicting development of epilepsy in children with CP based on Akaike information criterion magnitude used for predictor selection with exclusion.

Results. The study allowed to identify clinical and anamnestic factors predicting development of epilepsy in children with CP (p<0.05): burdened obstetric history (miscarriages, stillbirths), threatened miscarriage, arterial hypertension, grade 3 prematurity, Apgar score ≤2 points at the 1st minute and ≤4 points at the 5th minute, neonatal seizures, spastic CP.

Conclusion. The model proposed for predicting development of epilepsy in children with CP demonstrated a high level of predictive power. The model is characterized by an accuracy of 85.2%, a sensitivity of 87.7%, and a specificity of 82.5%; the prognostic value of a positive result comprised 83.8%, which will allow to objectively plan patient monitoring.

Background. Epilepsy surgery is mainly aimed at removing patient seizures. Despite the high efficiency of surgical treatment, a search for probable predictors of adverse outcomes and the analysis of the quality of life (QoL) in patients attempted to be surgically assisted provide only partial relief from disturbing paroxysms remain relevant.

Objective: To comprehensively assess disease parameters in post-surgery patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) with incomplete remission (Engel II–IV outcomes), and to identify QoL prognostic factors.

Material and methods. A single-center, retrospective, observational study assessing 67 patients with incomplete remission (Engel II–IV outcomes) operated for focal DRE was carried out. The following disease parameters identified as potentially possible QoL predictors after surgical treatment were analyzed: seizure frequency and severity post-surgery; dominance of the brain hemisphere underwent surgery; pre-surgery seizure type; neurological deficit post-surgery; epileptogenic substrate morphology; resection zone; extent of resection; disease duration.

Results. In patients with Engel II–IV surgery outcomes, a quite high level of positive subjective self-assessment condition (52,2%) was revealed, with number of seizures reduced by at least 50% in 59,7% cases. A statistically significant influence on the positive subjective QoL assessment based on criteria such as decreased frequency and strength of seizures after surgery (p<0,001) was found. Tailored resection of the epileptogenic zone led to aggravated seizure severity and frequency outcomes. Lobectomies and disconnection operations in 45,7% cases were accompanied by reduced number of seizures by at least 75%. Temporal lobe surgeries, compared with extratemporal resections, were more often correlated with QoL improvement.

Conclusion. In most cases, DRE surgical treatment leads to lower seizure rate and significantly improved QoL, even in the case of incomplete remission. Seizure frequency and severity post-surgery were the only parameters affecting postsurgical QoL in patients with incomplete remission.

Background. Epileptic seizures are involved in the diagnostic criteria for autoimmune encephalitis (AE). In this regard, timing of onset of focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizure (BTCS) transition and status epilepticus (SE) in AE is understudied.

Objective: to compare the timing of onset for focal-to-BTCS and SE during AE.

Material and methods. Examination of patients with AE included collecting patient history, conducting blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests, magnetic resonance imaging, and long-term electroencephalographic video-monitoring. Out of 41 examined patients, 22 (54%) were diagnosed with “suspected AE” and 19 (46%) patients had “verified AE”. Focal-to-BTCS were noted in patient history of 36 (88%) subjects, including subsequent SE observed in 12 (29%) cases.

Results. A single focal-to-BTCS/SE was the first AE symptom found in 8 (22%) patients, including 1 patient bearing antibodies against glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65). In 8 (22%) cases, AE manifested with focal seizures, whereas focal-to-BTCS and/or SE developed later. This type of AE course was most commonly observed in patients with anti-GAD65 antibody-positive encephalitis (4 out of 9 cases). Focal-to-BTCS and SE developed only at disease onset and during exacerbations of the immune process in 5 (14%) patients, 2 of whom carried anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies.

Conclusion. Focal-to-BTCS and SE most often emerge at AE onset. Anti-GAD65 antibody-positive encephalitis is manifested by long-lasting drug-resistant epilepsy with late onset of focal-to-BTCS and SE. In case of anti-GAD65 antibody-positive AE, epileptic seizures occur only at disease onset.

Background. Seizures are common in infants due to the inherent sensitivity of the developing brain to various insults, with metabolic alterations being a ordinary cause. Among these, hypocalcemia is a prevalent factor. Early diagnosis of hypocalcemic seizures is essential as the management and prognosis differ from other seizure causes.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of hypocalcemic seizures in children aged 1 month to 2 years.

Material and methods. This prospective observational study was conducted over 18 months in a tertiary care teaching hospital, following institutional ethics committee approval. All children in the specified age group presenting with seizures were enrolled and given standard care. Demographic and relevant risk factor details were recorded in a pre-designed proforma. Children with hypocalcemia underwent further testing for vitamin D, parathormone, alkaline phosphatase, and magnesium blood levels. Based on a previous study, a sample size of 225 was calculated to achieve a power of 80% and a confidence interval of 95%, with a marginal error rate of 0.06.

Results. Of the 225 children enrolled (53.7% boys), the most common type of seizures was simple febrile seizures (46.2%). The prevalence of hypocalcemic seizures was 3.6% (8 cases). Significant factors associated with hypocalcemic seizures included age and the administration of cow’s milk before 1-year age. All children with hypocalcemic seizures had vitamin D deficiency, with a mean vitamin D level of 7.77 ng/dl, and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels (mean 841.8 U/l).

Conclusion. Hypocalcemic seizures should be considered in the evaluation of seizures in children, particularly in young infants and when cow’s milk is introduced before 1-year age.

Migraine is one of the most common causes of headache with the prevalence reaching 21% and 6% in females and males, respectively, thereby attracting a great attention in investigating underlying migraine pathogenesis. The current article presents a clinical case of alleviated migraine manifestations in female patient with verified hyperhomocysteinaemia occurred due to severe folic acid deficiency. The additional specific characteristic of this case is associated to asymmetry of venous sinuses, revealed by contrast-free magnetic resonance angiography that accounts for cerebral venous dyscirculation. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is one of the factors of endothelial dysfunction, which impact in different diseases, including cerebrovascular, is being discussed. The data have been collected evidencing about a more frequent incidence of this disorder among patients with migraine than in healthy volunteers. Because hyperhomocysteinaemia may be decreased by medical therapy, it’s detection and correction potentially may alleviate migraine manifestations. This hypothesis require to be further investigated.

To date, despite the complexity and risks of not removing seizures hippocampal resection is the only effective solution to overcome drug resistance in epilepsy. Recently, a significant amount of data has been accumulated on the mechanisms of drug resistance development, which allows to develop innovative strategies to overcome it. New antiepileptic drugs have been emerging, directly aimed at acting on disease etiological substrate (many of them are at the stage of clinical trials). Targeted therapy have been extensively introduced, and coupled with precision medicine methods can potentially aid in finding a personalized approach to each individual patient. Migraine models also achieve a qualitatively new level, providing researchers an opportunity to develop highly effective systems for identifying previously unknown disease components, as well as assessing an effect of new drugs. The aim of this review was to highlight current approaches to the treatment of epilepsy and overcoming drug resistance.

A review of literature data is presented on polymorphic variants of genes responsible for antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) pharmacokinetics: highly polymorphic cytochrome P450 isoenzyme genes CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 as well as the gene ABCB1 encoding transporter protein P-glycoprotein. Genetic variants in CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 reduce the rate of metabolism, leading to AED ineffectiveness and adverse effects. ABCB1 gene polymorphisms affect the expression of P-glycoprotein in the intestine and the blood-brain barrier, preventing drug penetration into the brain and leading to drug resistance. AEDs pharmacogenetic studies are of high medical priority, as they contribute to creating scientific foundation for personalized epilepsy treatment, development of drug dosing recommendations, increasing efficacy and safety of commonly administered AEDs. Further studies in different patient groups are needed to improve individualized epilepsy treatment in clinical practice.

Phantom pain (PP) represents a pathological pain sensation that emerges in a person regarding a body part lost due to amputation or even naturally absent. PP occurs after amputation of both upper and lower limbs and can significantly impair patient's quality of life. Although PP descriptions have been reported since the 16th century, the precise underlying causes and pathogenesis remain obscure. Several factors, such as the site of amputation and the presence of pre-surgery pain, are associated with PP development. There are continued discussions regarding a role played by the central and peripheral nervous systems in arising PP, so that a relation between the former and neural network rewiring remain debated. The current review assesses PP epidemiology, as well as various theories behind its pathogenesis. In this context, publications included in the scientometric databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and eLibrary were analyzed.

Currently, among one of the most important issues in epileptology is discontinuation of anti-seizure therapy in patients with epilepsy. The article presents contemporary approaches to solving the problem of discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in patients with epilepsy based on assessing Russian and foreign publications, as well as our clinical experience. A comprehensive analysis of high-priority medical sources on AED discontinuation was carried out, including recommendations proposed by the Italian League Against Epilepsy (2013), practical recommendations for adults and children released by the American Academy of Neurology (2021) currently referenced on the official International League Against Epilepsy website, as well as recommendations of the Russian League Against Epilepsy (2022). A fundamentally crucial point in all the recommendations presented above is the lack of strict time frames, and that all provisions can be discussed with a patient and patient’s relatives. It is emphasized that a high quality of life of a patient with epilepsy is achieved only in the absence of epileptic seizures. In this regard, it seems extremely important to apply an individual approach to AED discontinuation, depending on preferences specified by a patient and patient’ family. All aspects related to AED discontinuation should be discussed by neurologists (epileptologists) in collaboration with lawyers, patient family members and various community representatives, not forgetting about the medical-social, medical-legal and ethical issues that arise upon AED discontinuation as well as decision-making on removing the diagnosis of epilepsy.

Currently, recommendations for conducting routine EEG examinations have been developed, but the pattern on assessing and describing brain bioelectrical activity remains controversial. There is no single commonly accepted consensus approach to writing reports based on routine EEG data. This leads to the situation when each specialist describes EEG activity as he considers correct. The reports on EEG examinations vary greatly from clinic to clinic, from specialist to specialist, so they are often difficult to interpret. This article proposes a simple step-by-step scheme for assessing and describing brain bioelectrical activity recorded during a routine EEG examination, as well as a review of potential for current software to be applied for automated generation of EEG reports.