Incidence of epilepsy in Ferrara, Italy.

Few studies have been carried out in the same area at different times, allowing an assessment of the incidence of epilepsy (E.), including all ages, over time. The available data on temporal trend show a decrease in E.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an 87-year-old woman with Escherichia coli bloodstream infection.

We present the case of an 87-year-old woman with history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart diseases, urinary tract infections, and cerebrovascular disease who experienced a transient clinical picture characterized by confusion, lethargy, and acute renal dysfunction in the course of urinary tract infection with Escherichia coli bacteremia. Escherichia coli bloodstream infection was associated with brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns in which the lesion distribution was consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Diagnosis of PRES was confirmed by demonstration of vasogenic edema on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and near-complete resolution of clinical manifestations at discharge.

Incidence of status epilepticus in southern Europe: a population study in the health district of Ferrara, Italy.

Background: The epidemiologic features of status epilepticus (SE) are still in the course of definition.

Methods: We carried out an intensive survey of multiple sources of case material in the resident population of the health district of Ferrara, Italy, in 2003. Information was collected on age, gender, duration, seizure type and etiology of SE.