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Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.
Seizures ll: Types01:19

Seizures ll: Types

Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that interfere with normal function. They are commonly divided into three groups: focal seizures, generalized seizures, and other types that do not fit neatly into either category.Focal SeizuresFocal seizures begin in a single brain region. When awareness is preserved, they are called focal aware seizures and may cause sensations such as tingling, unusual smells, or flashing lights. When awareness is impaired, they are...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Microdialysis of Excitatory Amino Acids During EEG Recordings in Freely Moving Rats
08:47

Microdialysis of Excitatory Amino Acids During EEG Recordings in Freely Moving Rats

Published on: November 8, 2018

Prognosticating acute symptomatic seizures using two different seizure outcomes.

Howan Leung1, Celeste B L Man, Andrew C F Hui

  • 1Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. howanleung@hotmail.com

Epilepsia
|December 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

First acute symptomatic seizures (ASS) often recur as another acute symptomatic seizure (AS), not an unprovoked seizure (US). This finding impacts short-term antiepileptic drug therapy decisions for patients experiencing ASS.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Microdialysis of Excitatory Amino Acids During EEG Recordings in Freely Moving Rats
08:47

Microdialysis of Excitatory Amino Acids During EEG Recordings in Freely Moving Rats

Published on: November 8, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Epileptology
  • Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

  • First acute symptomatic seizures (ASS) can be followed by recurrence, either as another ASS or an unprovoked seizure (US).
  • Understanding the recurrence patterns of ASS is crucial for guiding treatment strategies and predicting patient outcomes.
  • The distinction between AS and US recurrence is important for determining the need and duration of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the recurrence patterns and prognosis of patients experiencing their first acute symptomatic seizure (ASS).
  • To differentiate between acute symptomatic seizure (AS) recurrence and unprovoked seizure (US) recurrence following an initial ASS.
  • To identify predictors of seizure recurrence after an ASS.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 105 patients with first-ever ASS from April 2004 to December 2005.
  • Minimum 2-year follow-up or until death, with classification based on medical history, clinical evaluation, and expert adjudication.
  • Kaplan-Meier method and univariate/multivariate statistical analyses were employed to assess prognosis and recurrence risks.

Main Results:

  • First ASS was associated with high rates of status epilepticus (29.5%), multiple-onset seizures (35.2%), and multiple etiologies (22.9%).
  • Two-year mortality was 30%.
  • The 2-year risk of AS recurrence was 32% (mean time to recurrence 20.5 days), with epileptiform EEG independently predicting recurrence (OR 16, p=0.005). The 2-year risk of US recurrence was 12%.

Conclusions:

  • While ASS recurrence as US is uncommon, ASS is frequently followed by another AS.
  • The high rate of AS recurrence suggests a need for tailored, potentially short- to medium-term AED therapy.
  • Treatment decisions should consider the persistence, reemergence potential, or irreversibility of the underlying acute symptomatic cause.