Cognitive dysfunction in epilepsy: case reports.
Cognitive dysfunction in people with epilepsy is a frequently encountered but also easily overlooked problem. In this article three patients with epilepsy are presented with cognitive problems due to a relapse of seizures, due to continuing absence seizures or as a consequence of deteriorating mental functions resulting from frequent complex partial seizures. In the last patient the decline in mental functioning was also demonstrated in a disseminated activation pattern on her fMRI, which contrasts with the localised activity as seen in controls on fMRI. Suggestions how to handle these problems in daily practice are given.
de Krom
Mctfm
M
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maastricht, P. Debeyelaan 25, P.O. Box 5800, NL 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.dekrom@neurologie.azm.nl
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence
D000927:Anticonvulsants