title: Catamenial epilepsy: in search of a clinical entity and its prevalence.
abstract: The prevalence of catamenial epilepsy has been difficult to determine for several reasons, including menstrual cycle variability and randomness of seizure occurrence, a high prevalence of seizure clustering in males and nonmenstruating females with epilepsy, and the lack of a definition of catamenial epilepsy in previous studies. Recently, a definition describing three distinct patterns that may provide a sensible nomenclature for future research on catamenial epilepsy has been proposed, and it may provide standardized criteria for inclusion in catamenial epilepsy studies. Such a definition should allow estimates of true prevalence of this disorder to be more precise and prospective treatment trials to be designed.
authors.affiliation: Marshfield Clinic, Neurology Department, WI 54449, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Weatherford
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D018672:Community Health Planning; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D010507:Periodicity; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic