SPOTTING
ABSENCE SEIZURES IN
absence seizures people are affected by a sudden loss of consciousness for a short period of time.
There would be a difference between epileptic patients with Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures, Complex Partial Seizures, Simple Partial Seizures,
Absence Seizures and Unknown/unclassified on variables of trait anxiety, achievement, dominance, and aggression.
In this respect, Sadleir, Scheffer and Smith (2008) analysed the extent to what specific factors such as age, state of arousal, epilepsy syndrome somehow determines specific features of
absence seizures. More specifically, they used electroencephalography (EEG) methods as means of analysing level of awareness, eyelid movements, and eye opening during seizures.
Accordingly, we have tested our hypotheses in a chemical model of generalized convulsive seizures and not genetic models of generalized epilepsy where spike-wave
absence seizures are frequently present.
showed that enhancing the glutamate activity of parafascicular nucleus could significantly suppress the paroxysmal discharges in rats with generalized
absence seizures [50].
A case of atypical
absence seizures induced by leuprolide acetate.
Contrastingly, some seizures are produced immediately after awakening (awakening seizures), including short-lasting myoclonus with secondary generalization (tonic-clonic seizures), generalized clonic seizures and, albeit infrequent,
absence seizures (PELED; LAVE, 1986).
Patients with generalized epilepsy however; respond differently to different antiepileptic drugs, mainly because of the type of the seizures (for example, patients with generalized myoclonic seizures respond differently to different antiepileptic drugs than patients with
absence seizures).
Her epilepsy is now managed with medication but remains as petit mal, a complaint that means she suffers from short
absence seizures.
In the following parts the relation of absence epilepsy (and bilateral spike-wave paroxysms) with sleep will be analysed from several aspects: (a) relation of absences with the brain mechanisms promoting sleep and producing sleep EEG characteristics; (b) timing of absences during the wake/sleep continuum; (c) how phasic sensory input influences the occurrence of
absence seizures on different level of homeostatic pressure and vigilance level (is phasic shift of vigilance toward NREM sleep promoting absences?); and (d) what is common and different between absences and neurophysiological characteristics of sleep.
As a specific electroclinical syndrome, it is characterized by a genetic predisposition, no evidence of neurological or intellectual deficit and by mandatory or typical myoclonic seizures alone (irregular jerks of the shoulders and arms) or combined with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) in 80% or the
absence seizures in 15-30%.
A sampling of topics addressed in 33 contributions: network models of
absence seizures, experimental approaches such as ex vivo recording, control mechanisms, sex and development, orchestration of the circadian clock, locomotion control, consciousness and subcortical arousal systems, normal and disordered sleep, modulation of acute and chronic pain, mood and anxiety disorders, and drug therapy.
One type, generalized seizures, includes generalized tonic-clonic seizures (formerly called "grand mal" seizures), tonic seizures, atonic seizures, or
absence seizures (formerly called "petit mal" seizures).
"JME is quite a frequent disease in Qatar as it is in Europe, America, Indian subcontinent and Africa, and most patients with this disease have tonic-clonic seizures and many also have
absence seizures," Dr Mesraoua explained.
Several unexpected findings have already surfaced in the search for genetic clues to epilepsy, including a link between mutations in the GLUT-1 gene (a glucose transporter to the brain) and paroxysmal exercise-induced dystonia and a wide spectrum of idiopathic generalized epilepsies, particularly those with
absence seizures.