GELASTIC SEIZURES
Abstract
Abstract: gelastic seizures are focal epileptic seizures that involve sudden outbursts of forced laughter. In our study Gelastic seizures were revealed in 25 patients that comprised 1,98% of all epilepsy events with onset under 18 years of age (n=1261). Male patients prevailed in the group: 16 male patients (64.0%) against 9 female patients (36.0%). Symptomatic focal epilepsy was identified most frequently - in 80% of patients. Cryptogenic focal epilepsy (probably symptomatic focal epilepsy) was defined in 20% of cases. Epilepsy onset varied in a broad age interval: from the first day after birth till 16 years, 4.53+4.52 years on average. Most often (82%) onset was observed in the first years of life - from the first days of life till 6 years old. Clinical findings may disclose 12 different types of seizures. Most frequently were observed: focal motor seizures with typical automatisms - 64% of cases, secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures - 48% of cases and tonic seizures - in 32% of all cases. MRI changes: hypothalamic hamartoma - 32% of cases, temporal lobe atrophy - 12% of cases, DNET - 8% of cases, focal cortical dysplasia (insular-opercular region) - 4%, local bifrontal atrophy - 8%, Tuberous Sclerosis - 8% of cases, diffuse cerebral atrophy presented in the form of ventriculomegalia was diagnosed in 2 patients - 8% of cases. Remission was achieved only in 24% of cases. Whereas, in 12% of cases seizures were blocked only after surgical intervention. Reduction of seizures frequency >50% was observed in 20% of patients. In 56% of cases AED therapy produced no significant effect.
About the Authors
M. B. Mironov
Svt. Lukas Institute of Child Neurology and Epilepsy, Moscow
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
I. V. Ivanova
Svt. Lukas Institute of Child Neurology and Epilepsy, Moscow
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
K. Yu. Mukhin
Svt. Lukas Institute of Child Neurology and Epilepsy, Moscow
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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Mironov M.B., Ivanova I.V., Mukhin K.Yu. GELASTIC SEIZURES. Epilepsy and paroxysmal conditions. 2014;6(3):20-29. (In Russ.)
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