A retrospective evaluation of retigabine in patients with cognitive impairment with highly drug-resistant epilepsy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the efficacy and tolerability of retigabine (RTG) in residential patients of an epilepsy center.

Method: We used an industry-independent noninterventional retrospective evaluation on the basis of paper and electronic records plus interrogation of the treating neurologists. All patients (N=20; 7 females; mean age: 31.

Ambiguous results of an attempt to withdraw barbiturates in epilepsy patients with intellectual disability.

Phenobarbital and primidone frequently have adverse effects on mental functions. Therefore, an attempt was made to taper barbiturates in 85 patients out of a resident population with epilepsy and intellectual disability who were selected according to clinical criteria. The objectives were to reduce the use of barbiturates, to improve the patients' cognitive and psychological state, and to reduce polypharmacy while avoiding seizure exacerbation.

Efficacy and tolerability of pregabalin in patients with difficult-to-treat epilepsy and intellectual disability.

In a retrospective evaluation of 32 inpatients with therapy-resistant epilepsy and intellectual disability, the efficacy of pregabalin (PGB) treatment was assessed after 6 and 12 months. The combined efficacy measure included the percentage reduction in seizure frequency, as well as the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. Tolerability was assessed using a list of the 10 adverse effects most frequently observed in the regulatory studies and also by the CGI scale.

Screening cardiac ultrasonographic examination in patients with suspected cardiac disease in the emergency department.

Background/objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the utility of a brief screening cardiac ultrasonographic (SCU) examination. We prospectively compared the SCU with conventional clinical evaluation in 124 emergency department (ED) patients with suspected cardiac disease. Furthermore, we assessed the impact and quality of SCU examinations as obtained by briefly trained ED personnel (EP).

[X-chromosomal recessive spinobulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy type). Description of a family, clinical aspects, molecular genetics, differential diagnosis and therapy].

The Kennedy-Syndrome is a X-linked recessive bulbospinal muscular atrophy, in some cases associated with endocrinological disturbances such as androgen resistance and diabetes mellitus. The age of onset is usually between 20 and 40. Presenting symptoms are proximal flaccid weakness, fasciculations, cramps or tremor.