ObjectiveTo evaluate the treatment retention rate of five new types of antiepileptic drugs:lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV) and gabapentin (GBP) and their tolerability. MethodsA total of 216 patients diagnosed as epilepsy by receiving the long-term video electroencephalography monitoring between October 2012 and October 2014 were randomized into five drug treatment groups (LTG, n=57; TPM, n=42; OXC, n=49; LEV, n=47; GBP, n=21) and received corresponding dose of drug therapy. The seizure frequency, adverse events and number of patients giving up therapy were collected and recorded via phone or interview every 4 weeks. Every follow-up retention rate of every drug group equals current patient number continuing therapy/initial patient number of this drug group×100%. When the trial ended, Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox proportional risk model were applied for statistical analysis. ResultsThe trial lasted for 106 weeks. The final retention rate of LTG was the highest (85.9%), and GBP was the lowest (14.3%). Most patients could continue the therapy until the end of the trial after 24 weeks. The leading causes of discontinuing therapy included:no efficacy, rash, sedation and aggressive behavior. ConclusionThe retention rate of new types of antiepileptic drugs is associated with these elements:drug efficacy, adverse events, individual tolerability of drug, drug accessibility and the patients' individual preference of drug administration.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical features of and prognosis factors for spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). MethodsWe continuously registered hospitalized patients diagnosed with SIH from December 1st, 2010 to February 1st, 2014. Etiology information and clinical features were collected at the first day of admission. Routine blood test and lumbar puncture were done as soon as possible. Every patient got position and fluid infusion therapy. During the one-week follow-up, headache level was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). ResultsThere were 110 patients included, and among them, 39(35.5%) were male and 71(64.55%) were female. The age of onset was between 17 and 91 years old with a mean onset age of (42.0±12.4). Besides postural headache, common signs were nausea (68 cases, 61.8%), vomiting (63 cases, 57.3%), dizziness (40 cases, 36.4%), neck pain (27 cases, 24.5%), and tinnitus (23 cases, 20.9%). VAS at baseline was (7.46±0.86), and at the last follow-up, VAS was (3.45±2.17), with an average improvement of 53.75%. Patients with ANA marker positive had better prognosis. ConclusionSIH can accompany serious brain stem and cerebellum signs, and even meningeal irritation. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes are similar to virus infection with negative serum virus screening. If CSF leak cannot be found on imaging, patients can improve through fluid infusion therapy and postural treatment.