[Computerized tomography in epilepsy in children].

We present a retrospective study of 160 children attending our epilepsy out-patient department. Computed tomography (CT) was performed on 123 (77%) patients, namely all children with the exception of those with febrile seizures, typical absence seizures, and benign Rolandic epilepsy. Incidence of CT abnormalities and their correlation with clinical features were evaluated.

Transient cerebellopontine demyelinisation revealed by MRI in acute cerebellar ataxia.

An eight year old boy was admitted to our ward with a history of abrupt onset of rapidly progressive gait disorder, nausea, vertigo and vomiting. The clinical as well as the laboratory findings suggested the diagnosis of acute cerebellar ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, showed marked demyelinisation in the cerebellar region and visual evoked potentials were pathologic.

[Discrimination between epileptic and non-epileptic seizures using defined prolactin studies].

Prolactin blood levels (HPRL) increase within 20 minutes postictally after generalized epileptic, especially generalized tonic-clonic seizures and return to normal values within one hour. Elevated HPRL levels were also observed after complex partial seizures, but usually in less extent, exceeding normal ranges only slightly. Therefore baselin HPRL measurements are necessary for estimation of spontaneous fluctuations in comparison to changes after seizures.

[Psychopharmacological drugs in childhood (author's transl)].

The use of psychopharmacological drugs on children is still widely disputed. A questionnaire sent to Austrian pediatricians should give a realistic picture of the individual doctor's opinion to this question. The results are compared with reports in literature and the experience gained from patients in the medical pedagogical department of the University Children's Hospital, Vienna.

[Treatment result and treatment resistance in early childhood petit mal epilepsy].

The data of 115 children with age-dependent epilepsy in early childhood and treated in the out-patient department of the university clinic for pediatrics in Vienna in the past 20 years were prepared for computerization and subsequently processed. The average observation period was 10,9 years (SD = 6,81 years). At the time of the study 20 out of 35 children with infantile spasms and 61 out of 80 children with myoclonic-astatic seizures were free from seizures.