News - Non-convulsive
status epilepticus research seminar
16 November 2005
The Foundation's annual research seminar,
held in September, marked the publication
of the proceedings from the 2004 international
expert workshop on non-convulsive status
epilepticus.
Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE)
is a potentially life-threatening condition,
which consists of continuous seizures without
convulsions. It is difficult to diagnose,
and its treatment is controversial.
NCSE is an important area in epilepsy diagnosis
and treatment, with approximately 20 people
per 100,000 population affected each year.
Electroencephalography (EEG) is essential
to diagnosing NCSE, and as it has become
more widely accessible, we are increasingly
identifying NCSE. Nevertheless, NCSE is
still an under-diagnosed condition. Its
growing recognition has, however, led to
a number of questions concerning the possible
course of development of the condition,
and how it should be treated - two significantly
understudied areas.
The Foundation's workshop brought together
forty experts from the UK and abroad in
order to bridge the gap between experimental
and clinical data. The workshop looked at
the definition, prognosis and diagnosis
of NCSE; the features and treatment of NCSE
in epilepsy syndromes in childhood; different
types of NCSE in adult patients; NCSE as
a cause of coma; and NCSE in the elderly.
It also reviewed current evidence on diagnosis,
treatment and prognosis, to identify areas
where future research needs to be concentrated,
and to encourage collaboration.
The overwhelming consensus amongst the
workshop's participants was that more studies
need to be done to allow us to diagnose
and treat patients better. Treatment recommendations
must recognise the difference between NCSE
types in different age groups. EEG studies
are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of
NCSE and to monitor the response to anti-epileptic
drug therapy in all groups. Prompt recognition
of NCSE is clearly important as early treatment
in some cases can have a positive effect
in preventing cognitive decline.
The proceedings were published in Epileptic
Disorders in September 2005. They
make an important contribution to the scientific
literature on this topic. We hope they will
raise interest in and awareness of this
condition.
