0000000000343842
AUTHOR
Yaroslav Winter
First clinical postmarketing experiences in the treatment of epilepsies with brivaracetam: a retrospective observational multicentre study.
ObjectivesBrivaracetam (BRV) is the latest approved antiepileptic drug and acts as a synaptic vesicle protein 2A ligand. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of BRV in the clinical setting.DesignRetrospective, observational multicentre study.SettingWe retrospectively collected clinical data of patients who received BRV in 10 epilepsy centres using a questionnaire that was answered by the reporting neurologist.ParticipantsData of 615 epilepsy patients treated with BRV were included in the study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresEfficacy regarding seizure frequency and tolerability of BRV were evaluated. Descriptive statistics complemented by X2 conti…
Effectiveness of eslicarbazepine acetate in dependency of baseline anticonvulsant therapy: Results from a German prospective multicenter clinical practice study
Abstract Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is a third-generation antiepileptic drug (AED) approved as monotherapy for partial-onset seizures in adults and as adjunctive therapy in patients aged above 6 years in the European Union (EU). The prospective observational Zebinix Effects in DEpendency of BAseline Conditions (ZEDEBAC) study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of ESL in clinical practice, with ESL being administered as monotherapy (mono group), as only add-on to a current monotherapy (1 + group), or as add-on to ≥ 2 baseline AEDs (≥ 2 + group). In total, 237 patients were included, 35 in the mono group, 114 in the 1 +, and 88 in the ≥ 2 + group. Six-month retention rates were 93.9%…
Breakdown of Thalamo-Cortical Connectivity Precedes Spike Generation in Focal Epilepsies
Electroencephalography (EEG) spikes and focal epileptic seizures are generated in circumscribed cerebral networks that have been insufficiently described. For precise time and spatial domain network characterization, we applied in patients with focal epilepsy dense array 256-channel EEG recordings with causal connectivity estimation by using time-resolved partial directed coherence and 3T-magnetic resonance imaging-derived cortical and thalamus integrity reconstruction. Before spike generation, significant theta and alpha bands driven information flows alterations were noted from both temporal and frontal lobes to the thalamus and from the thalamus to the frontal lobe. Medial dorsal and ven…
Large-scale network architecture and associated structural cortico-subcortical abnormalities in patients with sleep/awake-related seizures.
Study objectives In this study, we aimed to estimate the alterations of brain networks and structural integrity linked to seizure occurrence during sleep and awake states. Methods Using a graph theory approach to magnetic resonance imaging-derived volumes of cortical and subcortical regions, we investigated the topological organization of structural networks in patients with sleep seizures (n = 13), patients with awake seizures (n = 12), and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 10). Abnormalities in regional structural substrates (cortical volume/surface area, subcortical volumes) associated with sleep seizures and awake seizures were further analyzed. Results Brain networks in patien…
Relationship Between Body Mass Index, ApoE4 Status, and PET-Based Amyloid and Neurodegeneration Markers in Amyloid-Positive Subjects with Normal Cognition or Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Body weight loss in late-life is known to occur at a very early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) represents a major genetic risk factor for AD and is linked to an increased cortical amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. Since the relationship between body weight, ApoE4, and AD pathology is poorly investigated, we aimed to evaluate whether ApoE4 allelic status modifies the association of body mass index (BMI) with markers of AD pathology. A total of 368 Aβ-positive cognitively healthy or mild cognitive impaired subjects had undergone [18F]-AV45-PET, [18F]-FDG-PET, and T1w-MRI examinations. Composite cortical [18F]-AV45 uptake and [18F]-FDG uptake in posterior cingulate cor…
Obesity and Abdominal Fat Markers in Patients with a History of Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks.
Background Abdominal obesity is a well-recognized cardiovascular risk factor. Conflicting data concerning its significance with respect to stroke have been discussed in recent years. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between anthropometric parameters and the risk of stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) in German primary care. Methods Patient recruitment in this large-scale epidemiological study was performed in 3188 representative primary care offices in Germany. Among 6980 study participants, 1745 patients with a history of stroke or TIA were identified and matched for age and gender with 5235 regional controls. Associations between standard anthropometric …
Satisfaction with and reliability of in-hospital video-EEG monitoring systems in epilepsy diagnosis – A German multicenter experience
OBJECTIVE: To analyze satisfaction with and reliability of video-electroencephalography-monitoring systems (VEMS) in epilepsy diagnostics.; METHODS: A survey was conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 among German epilepsy centers using well-established customer satisfaction (CS) and quality assurance metrics.; RESULTS: Among 16 participating centers, CS with VEMS was low, with only 13% of customers actively recommending their system. Only 50% of users were satisfied with the overall performance of their VEMS, and a low 18% were satisfied with the manufacturer's customer service. User interface, software stability, lack of regular updates, and missing customer-oriented improvement…
Quality of Life and Resilience of Patients With Juvenile Stroke: A Systematic Review.
Abstract Background The incidence of juvenile stroke is increasing. Considering younger age of patients and the potential long-lasting disability, the consequences of juvenile stroke may have a greater societal impact than those of stroke in elder population. Methods A systematic review was performed in order to evaluate quality of life in juvenile stroke. All studies on quality of life in juvenile stroke published in PUBMED before March 1st, 2020. The search terms were “stroke”, “juvenile”, “young”, “adult”, “quality of life” and “resilience” were considered. After the abstract evaluation of 748 hits only six studies we identified as appropriate for the review. The age criterion for juveni…
Health-related quality of life in patients with poststroke epilepsy.
Abstract Background Lesional epilepsy is an important long-term sequela of stroke. Data on health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in patients with poststroke epilepsy are limited. We investigated HrQoL in patients with epilepsy after ischemic stroke and identified independent HrQoL-determinants. Methods and patients All patients with acute ischemic stroke, who were permanent residents in the district Marburg-Biedenkopf (Hessia, Germany, reference population 240,000 inhabitants) were recruited within 12 months in the population-based Marburg Stroke Register (MARSTREG). Follow-up visits were performed after 6, 12, and 24 months, and patients who developed poststroke epilepsy were identified. …