PURPOSE:Epileptic seizures in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have not been studied extensively. We investigated the clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings for Chinese patients with MS who had experienced seizures.
METHODS: A total of 93 (57.4%) patients were diagnosed as having conventional MS and 69 (42.6%) patients as having neuromyelitis optica (NMO) over 20 years. Data on clinical symptoms, related examinations, and treatment were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS: Eight patients (8.6%), all of whom were female, had seizures during the course of relapsing-remitting MS. One had seizures as the presenting symptom of MS. The seizure type was focal onset in all the 8 patients, 6 of whom had secondarily generalized seizures. Only 1 patient was recorded as having focal epileptiform discharges by electroencephalography. The frequency of seizures was significantly higher in patients with recurrent seizures than in those with acute-MS-related seizures. Diffuse or extensive lesions were observed in acute-MS-related seizures; focal persistent lesions were related to recurrent seizures or even status epilepticus, both of which need long-term antiepileptic medication.
CONCLUSION:The seizure courses (acute or recurrent) and distribution of lesions (diffuse or localized) might provide information on seizure recurrence and decide anti-epileptic treatment strategies.
Epileptiform activity shown by measuring electrical activity of bits of the brain. Too many electrical spikes are discharged, this can lead to seizures
One person at MS Life 2012 had a child with MS and one with epilepsy. Whilst I am not aware of a linkage between these diseases, it is clear that epilepsy can by a symptom of MS. This is seen in this group of Chinese MSers. But because of this we know that MSers can tolerate anti-epileptic drugs for treatment of their epileptic signs. This is good news because we believe that some of the drugs used to treat epilepsy, should limit some of the potential causes of progressive MS. Therefore, we have drugs that are cheap, relatively safe for human use and all we need to do is test them to show that they slow progressive MS. This is the idea behind one of Team Gs trials
What? Like Baclofen? Baclofen is a horrible drug that was originally developed for epilepsy. Now they give it to MSers and it turns them into members of the living dead.
ReplyDeleteRE: " Like Baclofen?"
ReplyDeleteNo sodium channel blockers! We have a trial of phenytoin, a sodium channel blocker, recruiting in optic neuritis. We are also waiting to hear about the repeat CSF neurofilament study; this will test a different anti-convulsant that also targets the sodium channel.
Baclofen works on the GABA receptor and is more sedating that sodium channel blockers.
We also think that we may not have to use the high doses of drugs that are used for symptomatic control, which are more likely to cause side-effects.
ReplyDeleteMy father has epilepsy (grand mal)and I have ms ppms could there be a link. My daughter is only 11 and had severe vitamin D deficiency 14 and had trouble walking. My fear for her is this terrible disease which has robbed us of a family life. The Rheumatologist when I told him of the link between vitamin D deficiency and ms he said there was no link! Any advise?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen of a family member (not immediate family) I sometimes wonder if epilepsy drug side effects are worse than the disease.
ReplyDeleteOf course that's probably a stupid statement. I don't know much about epilepsy or her medical history
Re: "My father has epilepsy (grand mal) and I have ms ppms could there be a link?"
ReplyDeleteUnlikely; they are two distinct entities and I am not aware of a familial link between the two.
Re: "From what I've seen of a family member (not immediate family) I sometimes wonder if epilepsy drug side effects are worse than the disease."
ReplyDeleteYes, you are partially correct. The side effects vary a lot and are dose-dependent. For example, in someone with severe refractory epilepsy high doses of anti-convulsants can be very sedating.