rome and Epilepsy

The rate of early post-stroke epileptic seizures ranges from 2 to 33%. This wide range is likely due to differences in study design, patient selection and type of neurophysiological monitoring. Electroencephalography (EEG), which is not used in the routine work-up of acute stroke, is the best neurodiagnostic technique for detecting epileptic activity, especially in patients with non-convulsive post-stroke epileptic activity. The aim of this study was to analyze patterns on EEGs performed within 24 h of stroke onset, and to investigate correlations between these patterns and the occurrence of early epileptic seizures and status epilepticus (SE), vascular risk factors, stroke subtypes and short-term outcome.. We prospectively studied 232 patients (mean age 71 ± 12 years; 177 ischemic strokes and 55 hemorrhagic). EEG recording was performed within 24 h from hospitalization. The follow-up lasted 1 week.. Fifteen patients (6.5%) had early seizures within 24 h; 10 of these patients had focal SE with or without secondary generalization. EEG revealed sporadic epileptiform focal abnormalities in 10% and periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) in 6%. SE was recorded in 71.4% of patients with PLEDs. At the multivariate analysis, only early epileptic manifestations (p < 0.001) were independently associated with PLEDs.. Our study confirms that seizures are not frequent in the early phase of acute stroke and occur prevalently as focal SE at onset. EEG may help to detect specific patterns, such as PLEDs, that are closely related to early seizures. EEG monitoring should be performed in order to detect purely electrographic seizures.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chi-Square Distribution; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rome; Status Epilepticus; Stroke; Time Factors

To estimate the knowledge of and attitudes toward epilepsy in schoolchildren and university students in Rome.. We administered a custom-designed questionnaire in Italian on general knowledge, specific knowledge and social impact of epilepsy to a random sample of upper-middle class pupils and university undergraduate students in Rome.. The young people we studied have a reasonable knowledge of epilepsy: as many as 91% claimed to know something about the disease. Yet only 16% correctly stated the prevalence as being about 1 in 100. Middle-school pupils and university graduates consider epilepsy as an illness from which patients rarely recover and one that creates problems in finding employment. The largest number of correct answers for nearly all the questionnaire items came from university students.. These findings suggest that apart from an encouragingly large number of the subjects we studied claim to know something about epilepsy (91% today versus 73% 22 years ago), Italian students still know little about epilepsy. These preliminary data should provide a starting point for a future in-depth population-based survey and information campaigns at schools in the Rome metropolitan area.

Topics: Epilepsy; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Rome; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires

Have headaches influenced the course of history? It is very difficult to prove, but there is no doubt that head pains have affected some of the most influential people in history. This review explores how headaches have affected some of the world's most famous people.

Topics: Epilepsy; Famous Persons; Government; Headache; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, Ancient; Humans; Migraine Disorders; Military Personnel; Personality; Philosophy; Rome; United States

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anticonvulsants; Child; Epilepsy; Germany; Greece; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Hospitals, Special; Humans; Lithium; Rome

Topics: Epilepsy; History, Ancient; Rome

Topics: Epilepsy; History, Ancient; Medicine in Literature; Rome

Topics: Epilepsy; Greece, Ancient; History, Ancient; Rome