Hippocampal atrophy and memory dysfunction in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Lin, Katia [UNIFESP]; Araujo Filho, Gerardo Maria de [UNIFESP]; Pascalicchio, Tatiana Frascareli [UNIFESP]; Silva, Ivaldo [UNIFESP]; Silva Tudesco, Ivanda Souza [UNIFESP]; Bittar Guaranha, Mirian Salvadori [UNIFESP]; Carrete Junior, Henrique [UNIFESP]; Jackowski, Andrea Parolin [UNIFESP]; Targas Yacubian, Elza Marcia [UNIFESP]

Hippocampal atrophy and memory dysfunction in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Data

2013-10-01

Autores

Lin, Katia

Araujo Filho, Gerardo Maria de

Pascalicchio, Tatiana Frascareli

Silva, Ivaldo

Silva Tudesco, Ivanda Souza

Mostrar mais

Tipo

Artigo

Resumo

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a well-defined idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) syndrome, being the most common IGE in adults and accounting for 5-11% of patients with epilepsy. While neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have discussed the thalamofrontal dysfunction as the major pathophysiologic mechanism of JME, investigation on memory is scarce in patients with JME, with lack of objective assessments addressing common complaints and daily difficulties such as recalling telephone numbers, messages to pass on, and taking antiepileptic drugs regularly. the aim of this study was to objectively assess memory deficits in a group of patients with JME using neuropsychological examination combined with structural MRI of the hippocampi. After informed consent, a cohort of 56 consecutive patients with JME (29 males; mean age +/- SD = 26.5 +/- 9.01 years; range = 14.0-55.0 years) was included. the control group consisted of 42 healthy volunteers (18 males; mean age +/- SD = 31.0 +/- 8.54 years; range = 20.0-56.0 years) without a family history of neuropsychiatric disorders. Patients and controls were submitted to a MRI and to a neuropsychological assessment, and comparisons between groups were performed, as well as a correlation study between hippocampal atrophy and neuropsychological performance in a group of patients with JME. the level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Significant hippocampal atrophy among patients with JME was observed, which was correlated with memory dysfunctions. the present findings reinforce the existence of functional-anatomic ictogenic networks that are not limited to frontal lobes, providing further support towards the concept of 'system epilepsies' in JME. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citação

Epilepsy & Behavior. San Diego: Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science, v. 29, n. 1, p. 247-251, 2013.