EEGs to Predict Seizures
Most seizures occur suddenly and without warning. A study by Dr. Michel Le Van Quyen and colleagues at l'Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière (Paris, France) of electroencephalograms (EEGs) recorded minutes before each seizure has led them to believe that it may be possible to develop strategies to predict the onset of epileptic seizures with EEGs. Their analysis of 26 recordings taken 60 minutes before a seizure in 23 persons with temporal lobe epilepsy revealed that a measurement of non-linear changes in EEG signals allowed the anticipation of a seizure 7 minutes before it occurred, on average, in 25 of 26 recordings.
The authors show that the ability to anticipate a seizure with a scalp EEG may have considerable practical implications for the large population of persons with uncontrolled epilepsy. Their method is quite moderate in cost, can be implemented in real time, and allows ambulatory application. This holds potential for clinical application, to warn persons at home or in a hospital setting. It could facilitate EEG/video monitoring of surgery candidates by allowing early injection of the peri-ictal single photon computed tomography emission tracer, lowering the cost of the procedure.
In addition, the clinicians conclude that the identification of pre-ictal changes could allow other treatment intervention such as the administration of a short-acting anticonvulsant drug, electrical stimulation, or cognitive intervention with neurophysiological or behavioural countermeasures. If proven reliable, this application could lower the medical consequences of seizures and improve the quality of life of people with epilepsy by decreasing the risk of injury and the sense of helplessness fostered by the unpredictability of seizures.
The authors call for further study of larger populations over long recording periods.
More Information
|
