Epilepsy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epilepsy, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, drugs, information.

Patterns of nonadherence to antiepileptic drug therapy in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy.

Modi AC, Rausch JR, Glauser TA

Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. avani.modi@cchmc.org

Published 27 April 2011 in JAMA, 305(16): 1669-76.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Epilepsy published 5 April 2011:

The impact of parent advocacy groups, the Internet, and social networking on rare diseases: the IDEA League and IDEA League United Kingdom example.   Epilepsia, 52: 102-4.

The development of the Internet and subsequent evolution of social networking has significantly changed the effectiveness of patient advocacy groups for rare diseases. The greatest degree of change has occurred at the patient level, with an increased ability of affected individuals to share experiences and support, and to raise public awareness. Other changes have occurred, not only in the way rare diseases are diagnosed, studied, and treated, but also in how they are addressed at the level of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Dravet syndrome and parent associations: the IDEA League experience with comorbid conditions, mortality, management, adaptation, and grief.   Epilepsia, 52: 95-101.

The advent of social networking via the Internet and the commercial availability of tests for SCN1A mutations permitted the rapid development and growth of parent-led associations that provide advocacy and support, as well as promote education and research regarding Dravet syndrome (DS) in the last 10 years. The International Dravet syndrome Epilepsy Action League (IDEA League) is a partnership of parents and professionals united in the purpose of creating greater awareness and understanding of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Comprehensive care of children with Dravet syndrome.   Epilepsia, 52: 90-4.

The comprehensive care of a patient with Dravet syndrome encompasses both the "care" and the "cure" of the patient, and requires cooperation among family, doctors, and several other specialized caregivers to search for the attainment of the best quality of life for the patients and their families. Several issues peculiar to the disease to be faced while dealing with the patient are: (1) SMEI is an "evolving" disease that appears in an otherwise healthy child with ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

The ketogenic diet for Dravet syndrome and other epileptic encephalopathies: an Italian consensus.   Epilepsia, 52: 83-9.

Ketogenic diet is a nonpharmacologic treatment for childhood epilepsy not amenable to drugs. At the present time, two works based on national research, one in Germany and one in the United States provide international guidelines to ensure a correct management of the ketogenic diet. Our Italian collaborative study group was set up in order to formulate a consensus statement regarding the clinical management of the ketogenic diet, patient selection, pre-ketogenic diet, counseling, setting and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Nonpharmacologic treatments of Dravet syndrome: focus on the ketogenic diet.   Epilepsia, 52: 79-82.

We present an update of our experience with the ketogenic diet (KD) in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability and our short experience with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in the treatment of this syndrome. Between March 1, 1990 and May 31, 2007, 59 patients who met diagnostic criteria for DS were studied in our department. Twenty-four of them were placed on the KD and were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Three patients were treated with VNS. Sixteen ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

The effects of stiripentol on GABA(A) receptors.   Epilepsia, 52: 76-8.

The anticonvulsant stiripentol (Diacomittm) has been shown to have a positive impact on control of seizures for many patients with Dravet syndrome. As with most antiepileptic drugs, stiripentol has multiple mechanisms of action. Its direct anticonvulsant activity is likely due to enhancement of inhibitory, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission. Stiripentol was shown to increase the activity of both neuronal and recombinant GABA(A) receptors at clinically relevant concentrations. At ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

The pharmacologic treatment of Dravet syndrome.   Epilepsia, 52: 72-5.

Dravet syndrome (DS) is one of the most pharmacoresistant epilepsy syndromes. Valproate is used as a first-line agent to prevent the recurrence of febrile seizures and oral/nasal/rectal benzodiazepine is used for any long-lasting seizures, but these agents are most often insufficient. Lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and high doses of intravenous phenobarbital should be avoided because they may worsen seizures. Topiramate, levetiracetam, bromide, and the ketogenic diet may provide substantial ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Molecular and cellular basis: insights from experimental models of Dravet syndrome.   Epilepsia, 52: 70-1.

Dravet syndrome is caused by mutations of the SCN1A gene that encodes voltage-gated sodium channel alpha-1 subunit. SCN1A-knock-in mouse with a disease-relevant nonsense mutation that we generated well reproduced the disease phenotypes. Both homozygous and heterozygous knock-in mice developed epileptic seizures within the first postnatal month. In heterozygotes, trains of evoked action potentials in fast-spiking, inhibitory cells exhibited pronounced spike amplitude decrement late in the burst ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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