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Background and Objective: Patients with presumed nonlesional focal epilepsy-based on either MRI or histopathologic findings-have a lower success rate of epilepsy surgery compared with lesional patients. In this study, we aimed to characterize a large group of patients with focal epilepsy who underwent epilepsy surgery despite a normal MRI and had no lesion on histopathology. Determinants of their postoperative seizure outcomes were further studied., Methods: We designed an observational multicenter cohort study of MRI-negative and histopathology-negative patients who were derived from the European Epilepsy Brain Bank and underwent epilepsy surgery between 2000 and 2012 in 34 epilepsy surgery centers within Europe. We collected data on clinical characteristics, presurgical assessment, including genetic testing, surgery characteristics, postoperative outcome, and treatment regimen., Results: Of the 217 included patients, 40% were seizure-free (Engel I) 2 years after surgery and one-third of patients remained seizure-free after 5 years. Temporal lobe surgery (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.62; 95% CI 1.19-5.76), shorter epilepsy duration (AOR for duration: 0.94; 95% CI 0.89-0.99), and completely normal histopathologic findings-versus nonspecific reactive gliosis-(AOR: 4.69; 95% CI 1.79-11.27) were significantly associated with favorable seizure outcome at 2 years after surgery. Of patients who underwent invasive monitoring, only 35% reached seizure freedom at 2 years. Patients with parietal lobe resections had lowest seizure freedom rates (12.5%). Among temporal lobe surgery patients, there was a trend toward favorable outcome if hippocampectomy was part of the resection strategy (OR: 2.94; 95% CI 0.98-8.80). Genetic testing was only sporadically performed., Discussion: This study shows that seizure freedom can be reached in 40% of nonlesional patients with both normal MRI and histopathology findings. In particular, nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy should be regarded as a relatively favorable group, with almost half of patients achieving seizure freedom at 2 years after surgery-even more if the hippocampus is resected-compared with only 1 in 5 nonlesional patients who underwent extratemporal surgery. Patients with an electroclinically identified focus, who are nonlesional, will be a promising group for advanced molecular-genetic analysis of brain tissue specimens to identify new brain somatic epilepsy genes or epilepsy-associated molecular pathways.

Background and Objectives: Heterozygous variants in RAR-related orphan receptor B ( RORB ) have recently been associated with susceptibility to idiopathic generalized epilepsy. However, few reports have been published so far describing pathogenic variants of this gene in patients with epilepsy and intellectual disability (ID). In this study, we aimed to delineate the epilepsy phenotype associated with RORB pathogenic variants and to provide arguments in favor of the pathogenicity of variants., Methods: Through an international collaboration, we analyzed seizure characteristics, EEG data, and genotypes of a cohort of patients with heterozygous variants in RORB . To gain insight into disease mechanisms, we performed ex vivo cortical electroporation in mouse embryos of 5 selected variants, 2 truncating and 3 missense, and evaluated on expression and quantified changes in axonal morphology., Results: We identified 35 patients (17 male, median age 10 years, range 2.5-23 years) carrying 32 different heterozygous variants in RORB , including 28 single-nucleotide variants or small insertions/deletions (12 missense, 12 frameshift or nonsense, 2 splice-site variants, and 2 in-frame deletions), and 4 microdeletions; de novo in 18 patients and inherited in 10. Seizures were reported in 31/35 (89%) patients, with a median age at onset of 3 years (range 4 months-12 years). Absence seizures occurred in 25 patients with epilepsy (81%). Nineteen patients experienced a single seizure type: absences, myoclonic absences, or absences with eyelid myoclonia and focal seizures. Nine patients had absence seizures combined with other generalized seizure types. One patient had presented with absences associated with photosensitive occipital seizures. Three other patients had generalized tonic-clonic seizures without absences. ID of variable degree was observed in 85% of the patients. Expression studies in cultured neurons showed shorter axons for the 5 tested variants, both truncating and missense variants, supporting an impaired protein function., Discussion: In most patients, the phenotype of the RORB -related disorder associates absence seizures with mild-to-moderate ID. In silico and in vitro evaluation of the variants in our cohort, including axonal morphogenetic experiments in cultured neurons, supports their pathogenicity, showing a hypomorphic effect.

The progresses of neuroimaging have allowed an earlier detection of hypothalamic hamartoma in children presenting with gelastic or dacrystic seizures. Associated symptoms can include other types of seizures, precocious puberty, and behavioral or cognitive deterioration. Combination of all these features is not constant and, when present, their evolution may be variable. When epilepsy proves intractable, surgery may be a solution but is not without risks. Therefore, it can only be justified on the basis of a considerable degree of certainty on the progressive character of the disorder, both in terms of epilepsy and global development. Even though epilepsy is a major and usually the most important problem, it is not always possible to predict its course and to be able to evaluate its potential effects on development. Available data suggests that deterioration is partly related to the epileptogenic activity. We reviewed data from 16 personal cases and discussed the possible evolutions of the epilepsy syndrome on the basis of 6 illustrative cases and a review of the literature. We point out that seizures may start early in life and evolve either towards a catastrophic encephalopathy or may be transiently severe and will progressively settle down. Intermediate situations also exist as well as cases presenting with a mild epilepsy. In almost all cases cognitive difficulties are present and may be associated with behavioral disturbances. They are of variable severity, usually in relation to the severity of the epilepsy and the evolution of the EEG abnormalities. Some of our cases also illustrate that, in young children whose seizures are limited to "a sensation of a pleasant feeling", "a pressure to laugh" or "smiling", early detection of the hamartoma may still be difficult and the epilepsy pattern may be misdiagnosed as an epilepsy temporal or frontal origin. Detailed analysis of the electro-clinical evolution of representative cases highlights the variable expression of the epilepsy syndrome and renders difficult any dogmatic position on early surgery. However, recent data suggests that a surgical solution must be sought early. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate, not only outcome in terms of control the seizures without unacceptable side effects but also on the evolution of the cognitive and behavioral profile of children with HH and epilepsy are needed.

Objective: To discuss the indications and timing for resective surgery in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) and medication-resistant epilepsy., Background: SWS that causes epilepsy severe enough to merit surgery is rare. Because of the variable natural history of the disease, it is difficult to establish clear-cut indications for surgery and prospective studies are not feasible. Attitudes of clinicians and surgeons remain variable., Methods: The authors assessed the presurgical epilepsy profile, criteria for surgery, monitoring techniques, and the postoperative outcome of epilepsy in all patients with SWS consecutively admitted between 1972 and 1990 to two referral centers (Paris and Montreal) and underwent surgery for intractable seizures., Results: All 20 patients had a minimal postoperative follow-up of 4 years and all but one are still followed by one of the authors. One patient had a callosotomy, five underwent hemispherectomy, and 14 had cortical resection. Despite variability in the age at onset of seizures (range: 2 months to 12 years), age at operation (range: 8 months to 34 years) and surgical methods, almost all patients benefited from surgery. Visually guided complete resection of the pial angioma and underlying cortex, whenever possible, seemed sufficient; results were no better with intraoperative corticography. In children with previous hemiparesis, hemispherectomy proved particularly effective: all five became seizure free. None of the patients showed any aggravation of cognitive impairment following surgery; none of those who were operated on early presented with severe mental retardation, and 13 of 20 became seizure free., Conclusion: Although the natural history of SWS is imperfectly known, increasing duration of seizures and of postictal deficits, increase in atrophy or of calcified lesions or both, are indicative of its progressive nature. Despite the expected heterogeneity that renders formal comparison of the various approaches difficult, the current study provides new evidence to support early surgery in patients with SWS and drug-resistant epilepsy. The authors' results suggest that lesionectomy is a good approach, provided that the pial angioma is unilateral and the resection can be complete.

A child with Goldenhar's syndrome presented at about one week of age with stereotyped, repetitive paroxysmal episodes of hemifacial contraction, suggestive of partial seizures or hemifacial spasm. Later in life he also developed independent, permanent abnormal eye and chin movements identical in rhythm to those seen in myorhythmias, suggesting involvement of the dentato-olivary pathway. MRI demonstrated a hamartomatous lesion at the level of the pontomedullary junction. We speculate that the nature of the lesion could be responsible for the partial seizures mimicking hemifacial spasm and that because of its location, this same lesion could also be implicated in the genesis of myorhythmias. The presence of a hamartomatous lesion in a region affected by the abnormal development of the first and second branchial arches is not fortuitous.

The study of childhood movement disorders is still in an early stage. Tics and related disorders are recognized as one of the most common movement disorders. This contribution reviews the main clinical, epidemiological, pathophysiological, and treatment issues on tics and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Although these disorders are not life threatening, they may be psychologically or functionally disabling. Early diagnosis and special management permit the alleviation of symptoms.

Vigabatrin (VGB) has been shown through several studies to be safe and effective as add-on therapy, particularly for the treatment of partial seizures in patients with severe epilepsies followed for years in hospital-based clinics. We now report additional clinical experience with VGB arising from an open trial of add-on VGB therapy in patients with relatively few seizures followed by qualified neurologists in private practice (the French Neurologists Sabril Study Group). VGB was administered to 397 patients aged 12-74 years (mean age = 37.5 +/- 13.8 years) who presented with no more than seven partial seizures of any type per month during a 3-month baseline period (mean number of seizures = 3.7 +/- 1.9/month). Simple partial seizures were reported in 121 (30.5%) patients, complex partial seizures in 282 (71.0%) and seizures with secondary generalization were reported in 111 (28.0%). The mean number of associated antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was 1.9 +/- 0.9 and the mean dose of VGB was 2.21 +/- 0.64 g/day. Following introduction of VGB, 53 (13.4%) became seizure-free and remained so during the whole trial. During the fourth month of treatment, 158 patients (39.8%) had no seizures at all and a further 69 (17.4%) had their seizure frequency reduced by more than 50%. Secondary generalization was controlled during the whole period of treatment in 55 out of 97 patients (56.7%), 17 of which remained free of all types of partial seizures. VGB showed a good tolerability profile; adverse experiences more frequently reported were drowsiness and sleep disturbances. No action was necessary in the great majority of cases; the dose was reduced in 26 (6.5%) and VGB was discontinued in 32 (8%) patients. These data provide additional evidence that VGB can be used safely early on to treat patients with mild to moderate partial epilepsies. Secondary generalization was controlled in the majority of patients. Factors associated with the everyday clinical use of VGB, that resulted from a series of organized meetings with the investigators, are discussed.