Pathogenesis
Causes of Epilepsy
- Genetic
- Trauma - open or closed head injury, neurosurgery
- Cerebrovascular - haemorrhage, ischaemia, arteriovenous malformation
- Malignancy - glioma, meningioma, metastasis
- CNS infection - meningitis, encephalitis, malaria, tuberculosis
- Autoimmune - systemic lupus erythematosus
- Degeneration - Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis
- Idiopathic
Potential Precipitants of Seizures
- Sleep deprivation
- Fatigue
- Fasting
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Flashing lights
- Fever
- Stress
- Menstruation
- Missed antiepileptic dosing
Overview
Epilepsy Syndromes
Neonatal / Infantile
- Ohtahara syndrome
- West syndrome
- Doose syndrome
- Dravet syndrome
- Myoclonic epilepsy of infancy
Childhood
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
- Childhood absence epilepsy
- Benign Rolandic epilepsy
Adolescence / Adulthood
- Juvenile absence epilepsy
- Juvenule myoclonic epilepsy
- Temporal lobe epilepsy
Management
Management Options for Epilepsy
Non-Pharmacologic
- Avoidance of precipitants
- Avoidance of driving (consult local guidelines)
Pharmacologic
- Carbamazepine
- Phenytoin
- Sodium valproate
- Topiramate
- Levetiracetam
- Lamotrigine
- Lacosamide
- Ethosuxamide
- Benzodiazepines
Invasive Options
- Surgical resection of an epileptogenic lesion
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Deep brain stimulation
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