Effect of late-onset epilepsy on cognitive functioning in patients with small vessel disease.

Rationale: Late-onset epilepsy (LOE) often has underlying cerebrovascular cause and has been associated with neurocognitive deficits and dementia. Nevertheless, the interplay between these factors has not been studied thus far. Hence, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to explore how unprovoked epileptic seizures along with vascular-related factors contribute to neurocognitive impairments in patients with cerebral small vessel disease.

Status epilepticus without impairment of consciousness: Long-term outcomes according to duration.

Objective: The point after which non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) can cause permanent damage remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between time to resolution and long-term outcomes in NCSE.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all patients with focal NCSE without consciousness impairment at two tertiary care hospitals in Spain.

Efficacy, retention, and safety of brivaracetam in adult patients with genetic generalized epilepsy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and retention of brivaracetam (BRV) in genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) in real-life practice.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with GGE in whom BRV was started between 2016 and 2018, completing a follow-up period of ≥6 months. Clinical and electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics were analyzed at baseline and at follow-up as outcome measures.

Vascular risk factors as independent predictors of neurocognitive impairments in patients with late-onset epilepsy who have small-vessel disease.

Rationale: Late-onset epilepsy is often accompanied by underlying cerebrovascular disease and has been associated with neurocognitive deficits even dementia, but the interrelation between them remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the contribution of vascular-related and epilepsy-related factors on neurocognitive outcomes in a sample of late-onset epilepsy with history of cerebral small vessel disease.

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a comprehensive neurocognitive assessment was performed in 25 patients aged >60 years with one or more unprovoked seizures and history of small-vessel disease.

Usefulness of brain perfusion CT in focal-onset status epilepticus.

Objective: To evaluate the perfusion computed tomography (PCT) patterns in patients with status epilepticus (SE).

Methods: We included consecutive SE patients, diagnosed by ictal encephalography (EEG) findings and clinical semiology, who prospectively underwent a dedicated PCT study of SE in the ictal phase. The perfusion maps were visually analyzed.