[Advances and guidance in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: a review by the Andalusian Epilepsy Society of the new drugs cenobamate, fenfluramine and cannabidiol].

This review, conducted by the Andalusian Epilepsy Society, provides an update on recent advances in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, focusing on three new anti-seizure drugs: cenobamate, fenfluramine and cannabidiol. These emerging drugs offer new therapeutic alternatives for patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The primary objective of this review is to provide healthcare professionals with an up-to-date overview of the efficacy, safety and potential clinical applications of these treatments, backed by the latest evidence.

Real-life evidence about the use of intravenous brivaracetam in urgent seizures: The BRIV-IV study.

Purpose: Urgent seizures are a medical emergency for which new therapies are still needed. This study evaluated the use of intravenous brivaracetam (IV-BRV) in an emergency setting in clinical practice.

Methods: BRIV-IV was a retrospective, multicenter, observational study.

Ischaemic stroke and SARS-CoV-2 infection: A causal or incidental association?

Introduction: Ischaemic stroke has been reported in patients with COVID-19, particularly in more severe cases. However, it is unclear to what extent this is linked to systemic inflammation and hypercoagulability secondary to the infection.

Methods: We describe the cases of 4 patients with ischaemic stroke and COVID-19 who were attended at our hospital.

MONOZEB: Long-term observational study of eslicarbazepine acetate monotherapy.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) when used as monotherapy for 1 year or more in routine clinical use in patients with focal seizures in epilepsy clinics in Spain.

Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, noninterventional study. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years, had focal seizures, and started on ESL ≥1 year before database closure.

BRIVA-LIFE-A multicenter retrospective study of the long-term use of brivaracetam in clinical practice.

Objectives: Evaluate long-term effectiveness and tolerability of brivaracetam in clinical practice in patients with focal epilepsy.

Materials And Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study. Patients aged ≥16 years were started on brivaracetam from November 2016 to June 2017 and followed over 1 year.

Eslicarbazepine acetate and carotid intima-media thickness in epileptic patients.

Objective: Evaluate if eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) in combination with other non-inducer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in the treatment of epilepsy may represent a positive impact in the cardiovascular risk profile.

Methods: multicentre, retrospective, observational, non-interventional, real-life study comparing patients treated with cytochrome P450 (CYP) inducer vs. ESL plus non-inducer AEDs.

[Clinical and pathological definition of temporal medium epilepsy subtypes with hypocampic sclerosis].

Background And Objective: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis is the most common cause of refractory epilepsy, and the most common indication for surgery. Although effective, surgery fails in up to 40% of patients. The objective of our study was to establish a correlation between the different histological subtypes of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis and the prognosis, seizures control, side effects and anticonvulsivant drug withdrawal in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Factors related to the development of health-promoting community activities in Spanish primary healthcare: two casecontrol studies.

Objective: Spanish primary healthcare teams have the responsibility of performing health-promoting community activities (CAs), although such activities are not widespread. Our aim was to identify the factors related to participation in those activities.

Design: Two casecontrol studies.

EARLY-ESLI study: Long-term experience with eslicarbazepine acetate after first monotherapy failure.

Purpose: Evaluate real-life experience with eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) after first monotherapy failure in a large series of patients with focal epilepsy.

Method: Multicentre, retrospective, 1-year, observational study in patients older than 18 years, with focal epilepsy, who had failed first antiepileptic drug monotherapy and who received ESL. Data from clinical records were analysed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months to assess effectiveness and tolerability.

NEOPLASM study: Real-life use of lacosamide in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy.

Background: The choice of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE) is complicated, and there are a lack of robust clinical trial data to date.

Methods: The NEOPLASM (Neuroncologic Patients treated with LAcoSaMide) study was a 6-month, multicenter, retrospective, observational study in patients with BTRE treated with lacosamide. Patients were started on lacosamide because of a lack of efficacy or adverse events (AEs) with prior AEDs or suitability versus other AEDs, according to clinical practice.

[Combined treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Andalusian Epilepsy Guide 2015].

Aims: The aim of this study was to draw up a set of recommendations based on scientific evidence and in agreement with authors and reviewers, which address fundamental issues concerning the combination of antiepileptic drugs.

Development: A committee of 11 experts belonging to the Sociedad Andaluza de Epilepsia (SAdE--Andalusian Epilepsy Society), of whom seven were neurologists, three were neuropaediatricians and one was a neurologist-neurophysiologist, all of them with long experience in epilepsy, promoted a comprehensive literature review among 55 experts in epilepsy who were members of the SAdE, with the aim of searching for any evidence that might be available on diagnostic or therapeutic matters in epilepsy. The guidelines were set out in 35 chapters.

Review of therapeutic options for adjuvant treatment of focal seizures in epilepsy: focus on lacosamide.

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions worldwide, with an age-adjusted incidence of approximately 50 per 100,000 persons per year in developed countries. Antiepileptic therapy can result in long-term remission in 60-70% of patients, but many patients will require combination treatment to achieve optimal seizure control, as monotherapy is ineffective at controlling seizures in 30-53% of patients. Despite the increase in available treatment options, patient outcomes have not improved significantly and there is still a need for more effective therapies.

Antiepileptic treatment in patients with epilepsy and other comorbidities.

Background: A high number of patients with epilepsy have comorbidities. The type of comorbidity is an important factor in deciding on the most suitable treatment, including that for acute epileptic seizures and chronic antiepileptic treatment. Evidence-based criteria should guide the selection of the appropriate antiepileptic drugs given specific comorbidities.

Second case of neurocysticercosis in a patient with liver transplantation (first case in Spain): a case report.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a disorder caused by the Taenia solium larva. It is the most common parasitosis of the central nervous system (CNS). Its distribution is universal, but it is endemic in many developing countries and in the third world.

[Brachial presentation of spinal pseudochoreoathetosis. The result of proprioceptive information being processed in parallel].

Introduction: The term pseudochoreoathetosis is used to refer to the choreoathetoid movements that are produced by alterations in the proprioceptive sensitivity due to damage it has suffered at some point along its course. Proprioceptive sensitivity is considered to go up as far as the cortex along the posterior cords of the spinal cord, which means that if they are injured in the cervical region there should be a sensory deficit in both the upper (UL) and lower limbs (LL).

Case Reports: We describe five cases of transverse myelitis with localised cervical injury that selectively and mainly affected the posterior cords of the spinal cord.