Descriptive Words Relating to Epilepsy
A description of Medical Terms and
Diagnostic Terminology that you may come across when dealing with Epilepsy or
seizures.
AEDs
Anti Epileptic Drugs
The ability to form new memories;
memories for events occurring after a problem such as a head trauma or seizure.
AMBULATORY EEG MONITORING
A system for recording the
electroencephalogram for a prolonged period (typically 18 to 24 hours) in an
outpatient; the electrodes are connected to a small cassette tape recorder.
Something added to another thing in a
subordinate position or use; for example, an adjunct drug is one used in
addition to another drug, not alone (add-on therapy).
A process in which continued administration
of a drug leads to an increase in the rate at which the drug is metabolized
AUTOMIC
Pertaining to the autonomic nervous
system, which controls bodily functions that are not under conscious control
(e.g., heartbeat, breathing, sweating); some partial seizures may cause only
autonomic symptoms; changes in autonomic functions are common during many
seizures.
A mode of inheritance in which a gene is
passed on by either parent; in most cases, the child has a 50% chance of
inheriting the gene; the expression of the gene (that is, the
development of the physical trait or the disorder) can vary considerably among
different individuals with the same gene.
AUTOSOMAL
RECESSIVE
A mode of inheritance in which an
individual has two copies of a gene that requires both copies for expression,
or development, of the trait. Both parents must be carriers (that is,
they have only one copy of the gene and, therefore, do not have the physical
trait that the gene confers) or have the trait (that is, have two copies of the
same gene).
The part of the nerve cell (neuron) that
communicates with other cells, similar to a telephone wire; the axon is often
covered with myelin, an insulating fatty layer, which functions similarly to
plastic around a copper wire.
Referring to the menses or to
menstruation; with regard to women with epilepsy, a tendency for seizures to
occur around the time of the menses.
One side of the cerebrum (upper brain);
each hemisphere contains four lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital, and
temporal).
Pertaining to the mental processes of
perceiving, thinking, and remembering; used loosely to refer to intellectual
functions as opposed to physical functions.
A disorder that is present in association
with another
A scanning technique that uses x-rays and
computers to create pictures of the inside of the body; shows the structure of
the brain; not as sensitive as MRI.
CONSCIOUSNESS
State of awareness; if consciousness is
preserved during a seizure, the person can respond (either in words or actions,
such as raising a hand on command) and recall what occurred during the spell
CONVULSION
CORPUS CALLOSTOMY
A surgical technique that disconnects the
cerebral hemispheres and is most effective in reducing atonic and tonic-clonic
seizures.
CORTICAL DYSPLASIA
An abnormality in the development and
organization of the cerebral cortex that can cause seizures and other
neurologic disorders. These disorders can result from abnormal migration of
nerve cells during development or can occur with disorders such as tuberous
sclerosis or Sturge-Weber syndrome.
DEJA VU
Feeling as if one has lived through or
experienced this moment before; may occur in people without any medical
problems or immediately before a seizure (i.e., as a simple partial seizure).
EFFICACY
Effectiveness
A conductor through which electrical
current enters or leaves. When used to record the electroencephalogram, a small
metal disc attached to a wire is usually used.
A diagnostic test of brain electrical
activity; helpful in diagnosing Epilepsy.
A continuous or prolonged partial seizure
that causes contraction of the muscles; usually restricted to the muscles of
the face, arm, or leg; usually not associated with impairment of consciousness.
EPILEPTOGENESIS
EPILEPTOLOGIST
EXCITATORY
FEBRILE SEIZURE
A seizure associated with high fever in
children aged 3 months to 5 years, usually a tonic-clonic seizure; benign in most
cases.
GAUCHER’S DISEASE
A lysosomal storage disorder due to a
deficiency of glucocerebrosidase resulting in accumulation of glucocerebroside;
high incidence among persons of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
HEMISPHERECTOMY
A surgical procedure to remove a cerebral
hemisphere (one side of the brain); the operation is now often modified to
remove a portion of the hemisphere and to disconnect the remaining portions.
A condition associated with obstruction
of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways in the brain and accumulation of excess
cerebrospinal fluid within the skull.
Increased rate and depth of breathing;
may be done during the EEG to increase the chances of finding epileptiform or
other abnormal activity
An abnormal EEG pattern of excessive slow
activity and multiple areas of epileptiform activity; associated with infantile
spasms
ICTAL
Referring to the period during a sudden
attack, such as a seizure or stroke.
Referring to a disorder of unknown cause.
IDIOSYNCRATIC
Pertaining to an abnormal susceptibility
to some drug or other agent, peculiar to the individual
Referring to the period between seizures
A scanning technique that creates
pictures of the inside of the body and the brain; uses a strong magnet (does
not use x-rays); more sensitive than CT
A scanning technique that examines the
atoms hydrogen and phosphorus to glean information about chemical activity in
small areas of the brain.
Recording the brain's magnetic activity,
which is generated by its electrical activity
A condition characterized by sudden and
uncontrollable attacks of sleep.
An EEG pattern indicating the potential
for epilepsy; “benign” sharp waves are not associated with seizures
A diagnostic test that uses a very low
and safe dose of a radioactive compound to measure blood flow in the brain; not
as sensitive as PET for baseline (interictal) studies but can more readily be
obtained during a seizure.
A prolonged seizure (usually defined as
lasting longer than 30 minutes) or a series of repeated seizures; a continuous
state of seizure activity; may occur in almost any seizure type. Status
epilepticus is a medical emergency, and medical help should be obtained
immediately
SYMPTOMATIC
Referring to a disorder with an
identifiable cause; for example, severe head trauma can cause symptomatic
epilepsy
SYNDROME
A group of signs and symptoms that
collectively define or characterize a disease or disorder; signs are objective
findings such as weakness, and symptoms are subjective findings such as a
feeling of fear or tingling in a finger.
The amount of drug circulating in the
bloodstream that brings about seizure control without troublesome adverse
effects in most patients. “Subtherapeutic” (lower) levels are effective in some
patients, and “supratherapeutic” or “toxic” (higher) levels are tolerated by
others
A pacemaker-like device, implanted in the
upper chest, which stimulates a nerve in the left neck and can reduce seizure
activity
A technique for recording the behaviour
and the EEG of a patient simultaneously; changes in behaviour can be correlated
with changes in the EEG; useful for making the diagnosis of epilepsy and
localizing the seizure focus
An epileptic syndrome characterized by
infantile spasms, mental retardation, and an abnormal EEG pattern
(hypsarrhythmia); begins before 1 year of age.
For more information contact brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com
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