Levetiracetam in patients with cortical myoclonus: a clinical and electrophysiological study.

Levetiracetam is a new antiepileptic agent that exerts antimyoclonic effects. We conducted an open-label trial to evaluate the effect of levetiracetam in chronic cortical myoclonus of diverse etiologies and to determine whether levetiracetam affects electrophysiological findings. Sixteen patients, aged between 19 and 72 years, with refractory, chronic, cortical myoclonus were recruited.

The clinical spectrum and natural history of gelastic epilepsy-hypothalamic hamartoma syndrome.

Purpose: To delineate the clinical spectrum and patterns of evolution of epilepsy with gelastic seizures related to hypothalamic hamartoma (HH).

Patients And Methods: We evaluated patients with HH, observed between 1986 and 2002 for whom at least one ictal video-EEG or EEG recording of gelastic seizures was available.

Results: Six subjects (four male, two female) with sessile HH between 0.

Spinal muscular atrophy and progressive myoclonic epilepsy: one case report and characteristics of the epileptic syndrome.

Introduction: Spinal muscular atrophies (SMAs) are a group of degenerative diseases primarily affecting the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord and motor cells of cranial nerve nuclei. Even if the clinical picture is mainly dominated by the diffuse muscular atrophy, in some cases, patients may show associated, atypical clinical features ("SMA plus"). In particular, the association of SMA and progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME) has been rarely described.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in critically ill obstetric patients.

Objective: To describe clinical, neuroradiological and evolutionary findings in obstetric patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: University intensive care unit (ICU).

Eyelid myoclonia with absences: an overlooked epileptic syndrome?

Aim: To identify, among patients referred to our Epilepsy Center, those fulfilling eyelid myoclonia with absences (EMA) criteria and to evaluate their semiological, electroclinical and evolutive features. In addition, to examine some possible causes of underdiagnosis and to stress the role of video-EEG (VEEG) recording.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of 2780 epileptic patients.

Small hypothalamic hamartomas and gelastic seizures.

Purpose: To describe the clinical history of patients with gelastic seizures (GSs) related to small-size hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs), and to show some of these unusual seizures.

Material And Methods: Patients with GSs and the MRI finding of HH < 1 cm diameter. Ictal EEG or video EEG are required.

Tiagabine in glial tumors.

Rationale And Purpose: Preliminary reports have suggested a possible 'aetiology-specific' efficacy of tiagabine (TGB) in patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy (DRPE) related to cerebral glial tumors (GTs). This efficacy should be related to selective blocking of GAT-1 transporter by TGB. We presented our open-label, add-on TGB experience in a group of patients with GTs, compared with other symptomatic DRPEs of different aetiology.