Seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery for patients with normal MRI: A Single center experience.

Objective: To analyze the surgical outcome in non-lesional intractable focal epilepsies in our center and to find possible predictors for better outcome.

Methods: This is a retrospective study for 40 adult patients with intractable focal epilepsy following at KFSHRC-Riyadh, who underwent presurgical evaluation followed by resective surgery and continued follow up for a minimum of 2 years. The surgery outcome was evaluated based on the type of surgical procedure and histopathology results.

Developing fMRI protocol for clinical use .

Objectives: To assess a baseline assessment using developed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) language paradigms for Arabic-speakers.

Methods: 24-healthy right-handed volunteers scanned on a 3.0 Tesla MRI machine.

Saudi Arabian Consensus Statement on Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Refractory Epilepsy.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an approved adjunctive therapy for refractory epilepsy and used in patients who are not candidates for resective epilepsy surgery. In Saudi Arabia, VNS device implantation is being performed since 2008 by several comprehensive epilepsy programs, but with variable protocols. Therefore, to standardize the use of VNS, a task force was established to create a national consensus.

Lateralization value of peri-ictal headache in drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

Objective: To examine the lateralizing value of unilateral peri-ictal and interictal headaches in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRFE).

Methods: Four-hundred consecutive patients undergoing presurgical evaluation for DRFE were interviewed. Patients with headache were broadly divided into two groups: peri-ictal and interictal headache.

Effects of fasting during Ramadan on seizure control and quality of life in patients with epilepsy.

Background: During Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, adult Muslims are obliged to fast, which involves refraining from taking any food, beverages, or oral medications from dawn to sunset. Fasting's effect on seizure control is not fully understood, and a few observational studies have provided inconclusive results. This study aimed to investigate the effect of fasting during Ramadan on seizure control and quality of life in adult patients with epilepsy.

Schizophrenia following new-onset refractory status epilepticus secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome.

New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is a drug-resistant status epilepticus that often has a catastrophic outcome. Our patient was diagnosed with NORSE and had an EEG reading that showed status epilepticus persisting for 8 months in general anesthesia. After autoimmune workup showed positive antiphospholipid antibodies, his seizure was controlled, and he was discharged with good condition apart from moderate cognitive impairment.

Lessons Learned from Large-Scale, First-Tier Clinical Exome Sequencing in a Highly Consanguineous Population.

We report the results of clinical exome sequencing (CES) on >2,200 previously unpublished Saudi families as a first-tier test. The predominance of autosomal-recessive causes allowed us to make several key observations. We highlight 155 genes that we propose to be recessive, disease-related candidates.

Standardization of an Arabic-Language Neuropsychological Battery for Epilepsy Surgical Evaluations.

Objectives: This study provides a standardized Arabic language neuropsychological test battery and tests its ability to distinguish patients with left and right hemisphere epileptic foci who are candidates for surgical resection.

Methods: An Arabic language battery of 15 tests was developed based on the neuropsychological test battery used at the Johns Hopkins Hospital for surgical evaluation of patients undergoing temporal lobe resection. With modifications where culturally required, 11 tests were translated to Arabic by the principal investigator and back-translated by two bilingual health professionals; four tests were available in Arabic and added to the battery.

New onset refractory status epilepticus due to primary angiitis of the central nervous system.

Primary Angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare and poorly understood variant of vasculitis. We narrate a case of a 46-year-old male who presented with new onset refractory status epilepticus mimicking autoimmune encephalitis. In this case we are reporting clues that could be useful for diagnosis and extensive literature review on the topic.

Intraoperative direct cortical stimulation motor evoked potentials: Stimulus parameter recommendations based on rheobase and chronaxie.

Objective: To determine optimal interstimulus interval (ISI) and pulse duration (D) for direct cortical stimulation (DCS) motor evoked potentials (MEPs) based on rheobase and chronaxie derived with two techniques.

Methods: In 20 patients under propofol/remifentanil anesthesia, 5-pulse DCS thenar MEP rheobase and chronaxie with 2, 3, 4 and 5ms ISI were measured by linear regression of five charge thresholds at 0.05, 0.

The impact of a pharmacist-led educational interview on medication adherence of Saudi patients with epilepsy.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led educational interview in terms of adherence to antiepileptic drug administration among adult patients with epilepsy.

Method: Sixty adult patients with epilepsy who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited. A pharmacist-led educational interview was conducted with the intervention group (n=30).

Public knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy in Majmaah.

Objectives: Epilepsy is very common in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, occurring in 6.54 out of every 1000 individuals. The current study was conducted to determine the level of public awareness of and attitudes toward epilepsy in the city of Majmaah, Saudi Arabia.

Autoimmune encephalopathy and drug refractory seizures with the presence of two autoantibodies specific for the neuronal cell surface.

Background: An increasing number of autoantibodies are being described in epilepsy and other seizure-related disorders. A pathogenic role of autoantibodies in epilepsy has been suggested based on observations of the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Objective: This study aimed to report a new case of autoimmune-mediated encephalopathy and seizures caused by autoantibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKCs) and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) (P/Q-type) and the response to immunotherapy.

Epilepsy surgery series: a study of 502 consecutive patients from a developing country.

Purpose. To review the postoperative seizure outcomes of patients that underwent surgery for epilepsy at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC). Methods.

Ictal kissing with subdural EEG recording.

Purpose: Ictal kissing has been described in the literature. Five cases were reported and associated with temporal lobe epilepsy lateralizing to the nondominant hemisphere.

Methods: A case of ictal kissing was identified.

Natural course of epilepsy concomitant with CNS tuberculomas.

Background: Epilepsy is relatively common in CNS tuberculomas, but its natural course is unclear.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and prognosis of epilepsy in patients with seizures related to CNS tuberculomas.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients with CNS tuberculomas who presented at our institution between 1983 and 2001.