Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface and overview
- 1 Epilepsies as channelopathies
- 2 Epilepsy and movement disorders in the GABAA receptor β3 subunit knockout mouse: model of Angelman syndrome
- 3 Genetic reflex epilepsy from chicken to man: relations between genetic reflex epilepsy and movement disorders
- 4 Functional MRI of the motor cortex
- 5 Neuromagnetic methods and transcranial magnetic stimulation for testing sensorimotor cortex excitability
- 6 Motor dysfunction resulting from epileptic activity involving the sensorimotor cortex
- 7 Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy
- 8 Motor cortex hyperexcitability in dystonia
- 9 The paroxysmal dyskinesias
- 10 Normal startle and startle-induced epileptic seizures
- 11 Hyperekplexia: genetics and culture-bound stimulus-induced disorders
- 12 Myoclonus and epilepsy
- 13 The spectrum of epilepsy and movement disorders in EPC
- 14 Seizures, myoclonus and cerebellar dysfunction in progressive myoclonus epilepsies
- 15 Opercular epilepsies with oromotor dysfunction
- 16 Facial seizures associated with brainstem and cerebellar lesions
- 17 Neonatal movement disorders: epileptic or non-epileptic
- 18 Epileptic and non-epileptic periodic motor phenomena in children with encephalopathy
- 19 Epileptic stereotypies in children
- 20 Non-epileptic paroxysmal eye movements
- 21 Shuddering and benign myoclonus of early infancy
- 22 Epilepsy and cerebral palsy
- 23 Sydenham chorea
- 24 Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
- 25 Motor attacks in Sturge–Weber syndrome
- 26 Syndromes with epilepsy and paroxysmal dyskinesia
- 27 Epilepsy genes: the search grows longer
- 28 Genetics of the overlap between epilepsy and movement disorders
- 29 Seizures and movement disorders precipitated by drugs
- 30 Steroid responsive motor disorders associated with epilepsy
- 31 Drugs for epilepsy and movement disorders
- Index
- Plate section
13 - The spectrum of epilepsy and movement disorders in EPC
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface and overview
- 1 Epilepsies as channelopathies
- 2 Epilepsy and movement disorders in the GABAA receptor β3 subunit knockout mouse: model of Angelman syndrome
- 3 Genetic reflex epilepsy from chicken to man: relations between genetic reflex epilepsy and movement disorders
- 4 Functional MRI of the motor cortex
- 5 Neuromagnetic methods and transcranial magnetic stimulation for testing sensorimotor cortex excitability
- 6 Motor dysfunction resulting from epileptic activity involving the sensorimotor cortex
- 7 Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy
- 8 Motor cortex hyperexcitability in dystonia
- 9 The paroxysmal dyskinesias
- 10 Normal startle and startle-induced epileptic seizures
- 11 Hyperekplexia: genetics and culture-bound stimulus-induced disorders
- 12 Myoclonus and epilepsy
- 13 The spectrum of epilepsy and movement disorders in EPC
- 14 Seizures, myoclonus and cerebellar dysfunction in progressive myoclonus epilepsies
- 15 Opercular epilepsies with oromotor dysfunction
- 16 Facial seizures associated with brainstem and cerebellar lesions
- 17 Neonatal movement disorders: epileptic or non-epileptic
- 18 Epileptic and non-epileptic periodic motor phenomena in children with encephalopathy
- 19 Epileptic stereotypies in children
- 20 Non-epileptic paroxysmal eye movements
- 21 Shuddering and benign myoclonus of early infancy
- 22 Epilepsy and cerebral palsy
- 23 Sydenham chorea
- 24 Alternating hemiplegia of childhood
- 25 Motor attacks in Sturge–Weber syndrome
- 26 Syndromes with epilepsy and paroxysmal dyskinesia
- 27 Epilepsy genes: the search grows longer
- 28 Genetics of the overlap between epilepsy and movement disorders
- 29 Seizures and movement disorders precipitated by drugs
- 30 Steroid responsive motor disorders associated with epilepsy
- 31 Drugs for epilepsy and movement disorders
- Index
- Plate section
Summary
Introduction
Since the first descriptions at the end of the last century of a ‘peculiar form of cortical epilepsy’ (Kojewnikow, 1895), there has been much written about what we now term epilepsia partialis continua (EPC). This initial description of ‘localized continuous clonic jerks’, intermingled in these cases with more typical spreading focal motor seizures of the Jacksonian type (Taylor, 1931), has been followed by numerous other case reports and series. There has been much debate concerning the most appropriate definition, and what pathophysiological mechanisms under-lie this particular movement disorder. Now, over a century later, although much progress has been made, there are still many unanswered questions. This chapter will start by considering the definition and mechanisms underlying EPC, followed by a review of the current clinical literature in terms of etiologies, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
EPC is undoubtedly rare. The only study from which epidemiological data can be inferred is that of Cockerell et al. (1996), which identified 40 cases in the United Kingdom over a 1-year period. This suggests an estimated minimum prevalence of less than 1 in a million, so most neurologists will have little if any clinical experience of the condition. The most frequent cause of EPC is Rasmussen's encephalitis (Rasmussen et al., 1958; Andermann, 1991), accounting for 20–50% of EPC cases and predominantly affecting children (Dereux, 1955; Lohler & Peters, 1974; Cockerell et al., 1996).
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- Information
- Epilepsy and Movement Disorders , pp. 211 - 226Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2001