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Copyright of Revista Argentina de Cardiología is the property of Sociedad Argentina de Cardiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Investigación en Salud VIVE is the property of Revista de Investigacion en Salud VIVE and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Médicas UIS is the property of Universidad Industrial de Santander and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The drugs of narrow therapeutic margin constitutes one of the involuntary main causing chemical agents of exogenous intoxications type, one of the most common is the Carbamazepine. The clinical case describes a 7 years old male patient, which presented convulsions, hypotension, hypothermia and coma. At the admission moment in the hospital was considered the practice of the toxicological analytic chemical analysis for the causal agent's determination. The determination was carried out for the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in acids and basics urine extracts, for the confirmation of the diagnostic hypothesis. The results corroborated Carbamazepine as causal agent of intoxication, corresponding with the signs and clinical symptoms experienced by the patient. It a treatment with general measures of support was applied being reported a satisfactory clinical evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Rasmussen Encephalitis (RE) is a chronic focal and progressive disease in childhood associated to mental impairment and hemiparesis. Hemispherectomy has played a major role in seizure treatment since 1950, however, the pathophysiology with immune-mediated basis, has allowed to try different treatment options including intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids and immunosuppressive agents. CASE REPORTS: We describe two patients with history of continuous partial epilepsy and hemiparesia with seizures refractory to multiple antiepileptic drugs. The brain magnetic resonance image showed hemiatrophy in both cases. We compare the clinical and imaging features as reported so far in literature. CONCLUSION: Our cases illustrate that the ER is a chronic progressive disease with poor prognosis. Nowadays the treatment is aggressive, which may involve significant sequelae with limited clinical efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: In the treatment of epilepsy it is necessary to select drugs with high efficacy and minimum side effects. Levetiracetam seems to have an ideal pharmacological profile. Although the oral route is the usual form of administration, sometimes it is required the intravenous administration. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical profile, indications in intravenous administration and seizures control of 48 pediatric epileptic patients managed with intravenous levetiracetam in monotherapy or add-on therapy. METHODS: This is a retrospective and observational study performed at the National Institute of Pediatrics between February 2011 to April 2013, in patients receiving intravenous levetiracetam, for whom the enteral route was contraindicated. RESULTS: A total of 48 records were included, 60% of the population < 2 years. Symptomatic focal epilepsy was present in 39 patients (81%). The most common etiologies were: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (n = 14), cerebral dysgenesis (n = 10) and acquired metabolic disorders (n = 7). Indications for intravenous administration: uncontrolled seizures (n = 23) and fasting due to medical illness (n = 11). A total of 43 patients (89.5%) were seizure-free during the first 24 h. Intravenous administration was performed with dose 20 mg/kg b.i.d. and the patients received 2 to 6 IV doses, without any adverse effects. Once the enteral route was restored, the change from intravenous to oral route was made in equivalent doses. In all, 35 patients (73%) maintained levetiracetam treatment in mono/politherapy for up to 36 months (average 18.5 months, SD ± 10.5). A total of 13 patients (27%) discontinued levetiracetam, none for therapeutic failure, 1 patient developed aggression during the first week as adverse event and suspended levetiracetam, followed by economic hardship. CONCLUSIONS: This series shows that levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug that enabled adequate control in acute seizures and chronic management of epilepsy. Adherence was obtained in 80% of patients. The levetiracetam is a safe, broad-spectrum antiepileptic with few adverse effects and is a good option for intravenous use in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. There are tools to quantitatively study the volume of the hippocampus. Such study would help to complement, more objectively and precisely, structural alterations that may be associated with the data obtained from electroencephalograms. Material and methods. Seventeen patients, between 3 and 11 years of age, with diagnosis of first-time seizures and from whom magnetic resonance studies and electroencephalograms were available, were analyzed. Results:.The left temporal lobe was involved in 3 patients, of whom 1 (5%) was found to be normal in the magnetic resonance and 2 (11%) abnormal with diagnoses of venous angioma and cortical atrophy. No significant difference was found between the two groups for the results obtained with resonance (Student p value: 0.6) and those obtained with electroencephalography (Student p value: 0.3). Electroencephalographic alterations in the frontal region were observed in 8 (47%) patients, 4 (23%) predominantly left, 1 (5%) right, and 3 (17%) bilateral; of those, in 5 (29%) cases the resonance was normal, one had left temporal atrophy, one diagnosis of meningitis, and one more of medulloblastoma. Discussion. In the remaining 3 (17%) patients we found generalized cortical involvement in the electroencephalogram, but resonance found one normal study, one suprasellar ependymoma, and one patient with agenesis of the corpus callosum. Conclusion. it was not possible to show a statistically significant value that could relate the results obtained by magnetic resonance with those obtained by electroencephalography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Epilepsy of early presentation has a special relevance by its association with poor prognosis related with cause. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out of epilepsy presented before first year of life, with first afebrile crisis and no acute symptomatic. The sample included cases assisted in Neuropediatric Service of Pediatric University Hospital of Centro Habana form January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009. The patients were compared in the following categories: idiopathic, symptomatic, and probably symptomatic. Results: 41 patients were included: 23 with idiopathic epilepsy, 17 with symptomatic epilepsy and 1 with probably symptomatic. In children with idiopathic epilepsy 14 have family history of epilepsy. In symptomatic epilepsy were reported 29 prenatal antecedents. 20 patients have more than one prenatal and familiar antecedent. The more frequent cause was included in prenatal origin (15) and perinatal (10), combined in one patient with more than one origin. According electroencephalographic characteristic: 12 are generalized, 26 without generalization, and 3 with hypsarrhythmia and West syndrome. In relation with the psychomotor development normality was detected in 22 patients, 8 have mild retardation and 11 moderate to severe retardation. Conclusions: This study is compatible with the existence of benign epilepsies and good prognosis before first year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy is a chronic disease that is mostly associated with magic-religious concepts that generate social rejection. Objective: To develop and validate a questionnaire that allows measurement of the degree of knowledge and beliefs on epilepsy in parents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to develop and validate a valid and reliable instrument. Qualitative validity of the instrument was performed by analysis of experts, and quantitative validity (reliability and internal validity) was evaluated by calculating KR-20, index of intra-class correlation and discriminative index. Results: KR-20 coefficient was 0.89 and the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.986, both were considered high values. In addition, the discriminative index value for each item was within accepted limits. Conclusions: The instrument developed is valid and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses ten basic points of epilepsy in children that the psychiatrist should know in his medical practice. We mention the importance of the issue especially in children, since over 75% of patients start their epilepsy before 18 years, with a subsequent increase in the elderly. Epidemiological studies of the Epilepsy Priority Program have shown a prevalence of 15x1000, this is more than a million and half of patients with epilepsy in the country. The article describes the current definition and discusses a new definition proposal which mentioned that epilepsy is a brain disease characterized by a predisposition to present lasting and permanent seizures with their biological, cognitive and psychosocial consequences. It emphasizes the different types of seizures according to the international classification and lists some types of seizures that can be difficult to recognize. Record a brief description of non-epileptic paroxysmal events than can be confused with epilepsy. Describes the usefulness of the electroencephalogram and neuroimaging studies in epilepsy. It emphazises the importance of type of epilepsy, since different anticonvulsants are useful for specific seizures. It also mentions the most common behavioral and learning problems that children with epilepsy may present. The article clarifies some myths and provides recommendations for the long term follow up of these patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work are presented results of a local investigation, in which children and adolescents with absence seizures were invited to participate, with the objective to know from their perspective how they live their illness in their everyday. The model in where it is to rely on is the experience of illness; this approach integrates the mind-body dichotomy within the social context, acknowledging that people are more than physiological entities; overcomes the limitations inherent in the medical model and ensures that patients are treated as persons and not as objects. The fundamental of this work is that provided the opportunity to participants to express free and creatively about their emotions, difficulties, point of view, etc. who scarcely are take in consideration. This because the children have been regarded as the passive recipients of adults' protection and care; have been the invisible and voiceless objects of concern, and not understood as competent, autonomous persons who have a point of view .We utilized for this work a methodology (novel, in which we are starting to research in our country). It employs humanities (in this case drawing and narrative) in neurology pediatric area, to explore one of the disorders of more frequency in this subspecialty. We conclude that like child health professionals interested in to promote the children development and well-being, as well as to achieve an eager patient compliance, is essential that the practitioners in their clinical practice to get more involved to obtain knowledge not only of the disease also of the illness experience. It will extend their knowledge and it will improve the attention process too, creating better conditions of childhood in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medicina (Buenos Aires) is the property of Medicina (Buenos Aires) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The ketogenic diet is a therapeutic approach for the uncontrolled epilepsy in children. Although this diet was used since the first have of the last century, based in the observations in patients with epilepsy and starvation, that the ketosis seems to be an effective procedure to diminish the frequency of seizures, in recent years has been accumulated enough evidences that shown that a ketogenic induced diet is effective in children with uncontrolled epilepsy. In this paper are some of this experiences reported in this studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Objective: The purpose of this clinical trial was to differentiate the neurocognitive performance between frontal and temporal seizures in pediatric epilepsy. This is an important issue related to measure the impact of the different type of seizures in the neurodevelopment of children with epilepsy. Methods. We analyzed patients with partial epilepsy between 6 and 12 years old, both genders, in the Neurology Department of the Hospital Infantil de Mexico. After classifying frontal and temporal epilepsies, neurocognitive, IQ, attention, working memory, executive functions and visuospatial performance tests were applied. Likewise, EEG, neuroimaging, social evaluation and physical examination were performed. Results. Thirty-seven patients both genders (22 males; 15 females) with frontal partial seizures (17) and temporal partial seizures (20) were evaluated. The main neurocognitive differences between these 2 types of epilepsy were IQ (mean 82 in frontal epilepsy and 97 in temporal epilepsy) a higher impact on working memory and visuospatial performance was observed in infants with frontal epilepsy. The patients with temporal epilepsy bad more problems in executing attention and long memory tests. Conclusion. Frontal partial seizures had more impact on the neurocognitive abilities than temporal partial seizures in the studied patients. This observation should be taken into account for the early treatment of children with epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to evaluate the tomography-electroencephalography agreement in pediatric patients attended with epilepsy diagnosis at service neuropediatric in the Medical Unit of High Specialization "Adolfo Ruiz Cortines", during the period from January to October of year 2006. Methods: retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational, observational. One hundred eighty files of pediatric patients were reviewed with clinical diagnosis of epilepsy with electroencephalography of date next to their study of tomography; the agreement was realized with the test of kappa, comparing the results of each diagnosis method, in each patient. Results: of 69 patients, 10 patients were catalogued as normal by both methods and 23 showed cerebral alterations in the same site of epilepsy focus; the observed agreement was 47.8 % with an index of kappa of 0.095 Conclusion: the agreement between the electroencephalography and the computed tomography is very low, in the findings of cerebral structural injuries related to the location of the epilepsy focus in pediatric patients with epilepsy diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Severe head injury is the main cause of traumatic death in the pediatric population and it is responsible for producing severe sequelae, like metal retardation, infantile epilepsy and physical disabilities. Objective: To describe the characteristics of pediatric patients with severe head injury (SHI) and analyzed factors associated with mortality. Material and methods: This is a retrospective, observational and analytic study. We reviewed all patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with SHi, between May 1 of 2004 and May 31 of 2007. Statistics: Patients medical records were retrieved, all patients were separated in two groups: A (alive) and B (dead). Demographic and morbidity and mortality variables were analyzed; odds ratio was determined for those with statistical significance. Results: Of the 506 patients admitted to the PICU, 37 (7.3%) presented SHI. The mean age in this group was 7.2 + 4.4 years, with a mean Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 7.1 + 2.9. In the CT scan, 40% of the patients presented diffuse brain lesions grade II (DBL) and 37% had DBL grade V, being these two the most common lesions. Clinically important sequelae were found in 8 (26.6%). Mortality in patients with SHI was 20% and was significantly associated with a GCS lower than 5 (p= 0.005), the presence of mydriasis (p= 0.003), lactacidemia (p= 0.006) and hyperglycemia (p= 0.001), as well as having presented cardiac arrest (p= 0.001). Conclusion: Morbidity and mortality in this study group with SHI was similar to that in most published series. A lower GCS score was associated with a higher mortality. Risk factors associated to mortality were the presence of mydriasis, lactacidemia, hyperglycemia and cardiac arrest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seizures are a frequent complication seen in children with Terminal Chronic Renal Failure. Objective: To describe the characteristics of seizures seen in the children with Terminal Chronic Renal Failure. Material and Methods: Retrospective study, type series of cases. There were included 24, 14-year-old minor patients of both sexes by IRC-T who presented at least an episode of epileptic attack, attended in the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia between January, 1998 and March, 2006. Results: We found 24/188 (12,7%) prevalence of seizures in the population, 18/24 (75%) of children were on chronic dialysis while they present the first episode of seizures, the most frequent type of seizures were partial crisis (41.6%); we found that the more frequent etiology of Terminal Chronic Renal Failure was glomerulopathies and the most frequent finding on the CT scan was the parenchymal hemorrhage. Conclusions: The frequency of seizures in children with Terminal Chronic Renal Failure were less frequent than the frequency found in the revised literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive, cheap and available study particularly useful in epilepsies; for other neurological studies its usefulness is limited, and it results costly and bothersome for patients. Objective: To describe clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics of 1 000 pediatric patients; to identify EEG sensitivity and specificity in epileptic patients from this population sample, and to calculate the cost of each EEG. Materials and methods. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 1 000 patients were analyzed; EEG specificity and sensitivity as well as approximate cost were calculated. Results. Forty-nine percent of cases presented a normal EEG whose cost was $484 281.17 Mexican pesos. Psychiatry Department reported 79% normal EEG. In epileptic patients, sensitivity was 47% and specificity 83%; positive and negative predictive values were 40 and 86% respectively. Conclusions. EEG is a very useful study in epileptic patients but not in other neurological diseases. Cost per EEG was $988.33 Mexican pesos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Benign Childhood Epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes is an idiopathic partial epileptic syndrome accepted by ILAE since 1989. Cognitive impairment may be observed in large series of patients with this syndrome. The effect of spikes localization on cerebral organization of language function either contribution of functional images techniques had not been study entirely in order to understand this syndrome. Objective: To determine if spike s localization could modified cortical language organization depending of the time with seizures and whether interictal SPECT images show hypoperfusion areas related with cortical language areas. Patients and method: Right-handle children were assigned in to three age and sex mates group: the first account for healthy child, second group was divided in two other group depending of localization of spikes, one with left cortical spikes and the other with right cortical spikes. We assessed the functional reorganization of cortical language areas employed cognitive paradigm described by Cook and Kinsbourne. Cerebral blood flow was assessed in children with seizures, cognitive deficits and left cortical spikes. Result: The study included a total of 25 children with seizures and 236 healthy children. Forty of 25 children had spikes located in the right cortical hemisphere, the other 11 had spikes on the left cortical side. Functional language reorganization was found after 10 month of seizures onset. We reported cortical hipoperfused areas related with epileptic focus's side (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Inhibition on epileptic focus's side is associated with a bihemispheric cortical language representation. These features seem to be related with the time of seizures onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]