Clinical Research
Clinical characteristics of nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy
Ye Linmei, Chen Cong, Ding Fang, Yang Linglin, Jin Bo, Wang Shuang
Published 2020-02-08
Cite as Chin J Neurol, 2020,53(02): 103-109. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1006-7876.2020.02.005
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics, memory and neuroimaging features of nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE-NL).
MethodsForty-four patients with TLE-NL and 53 patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS) were recruited from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from September 1st 2012 to August 31st 2017. The clinical characteristics were systematically analyzed and compared between TLE-NL and TLE-HS. Twenty healthy volunteers were also recruited. Memory assessment and high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning were completed in the patients and healthy volunteers. Volume and shape of the hippocampus were compared between patients and healthy volunteers.
ResultsCompared with the TLE-HS, TLE-NL patients showed later seizure onset ((24.3±12.6) vs (15.8±10.3) years; t=3.684, P<0.01), shorter duration of epilepsy ((4.00 (2.00, 8.75)) vs (14.00 (7.50, 22.00)) years; Z=-4.675, P<0.01), less history of febrile convulsions (4.5% (2/44) vs 62.3% (33/53); χ2=32.270, P<0.01) and lower incidence of pharmacoresistant epilepsy (47.7% (21/44) vs 84.9% (45/53); χ2=15.282, P<0.01). However, there were no statistically significant differences between TLE-NL and TLE-HS in sex ratio, family history of epilepsy, lateralization of the epileptogenic zone, presence of aura, seizure types and seizure frequency. TLE-NL patients had normal memory quotient compared to normal controls (105.2±17.4 vs 103.8±16.2; P=1.000), while TLE-HS patients had significant memory impairment compared to normal controls (84.5±20.3 vs 103.8±16.2; P<0.01). Compared to normal controls, TLE-NL patients did not have significant alteration in hippocampal volume and shape, while TLE-HS patients had significant atrophy in the ipsilateral hippocampus ((2 953±481) mm3vs (4 431±505) mm3; P<0.01), and shape analysis showed significant atrophy in the head and body of the hippocampus.
ConclusionTLE-NL has different characteristics compared with TLE-HS, including later seizure onset, shorter duration of epilepsy, less history of febrile convulsions, better response to antiepileptic drugs, and no significant memory impairment and hippocampal atrophy.
Key words:
Temporal lobe epilepsy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Hippocampus; Memory
Contributor Information
Ye Linmei
Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China (now is working in the Department of Neurology, Hengdian Wenrong Hospital, Dongyang, Zhejiang 322118, China)
Chen Cong
Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
Ding Fang
Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
Yang Linglin
Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
Jin Bo
Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital, Hangzhou 310009, China
Wang Shuang
Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China