Neuropathology of epileptic encephalopathies and non-paroxysmal epileptic disorders and principles of their treatment

Abstract

Based on his many year's studies and the data available in the literature, the author considers the neuropathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the damaging action of epileptic discharges on basic brain functions and provides evidence for the views of prolonged non-paroxysmal psychoneurological epileptic disorders and epileptic encephalopathies. He shows the consistency of clinical manifestations of the site of cerebral epileptic discharges on the basis of an update on their functional localization and functional neuroimaging. Computerized three-dimensional electroencephalography (EEG) data mapping is shown to play a crucial role in the understanding of the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of non-paroxysmal epileptic disorders. Based on the concepts that epileptiform activity plays a neuropathological role in the genesis of non-paroxysmal epileptic disorders, the author substantiates the use of agents that are effective in suppressing EEG epileptiform activity (valproate, levetiracetam, and lamotrigine) as a first-choice drug and caution when giving the antiepileptics that can aggravate epileptiform activity and clinical manifestations.

Keywords

• epileptic encephalopathy
• non-paroxysmal epileptic disorder
• electroencephalography