Latest Conference Coverage

Making MS Therapy Decisions in an Ever-Evolving Treatment Landscape

The MS neurologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health discussed the impact that propensity score has had on real-world data analysis, the use of additional outcome measures in trials, and the increasing understanding of progressive disease.

Brian J. Murray, MD: Establishing Normal Values in Polysomnography

The head of neurology at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre of the University of Toronto spoke about the limited available normative sleep data, and shared insight into the findings of the meta-analysis he and colleagues conducted of more than 150 studies.

Sharon Chiang, MD, PhD: The Usefulness of Seizure Diaries in Epilepsy

The neurology resident at the University of California San Francisco spoke about the role that seizure diaries can play in a patient’s peace of mind, as well as in the understanding of that patient’s response to a given treatment.

Michael J. Thorpy, MBChB: The Subtle Manifestations of Cataplexy

The director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center spoke about one of the major symptoms of narcolepsy and how to identify it during diagnosis.

Preventive Treatment in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Lowers Risk for Refractory Epilepsy

Patients whose EEG changes were monitored prior to onset of clinical seizures and who were given preventive therapy demonstrated a lower risk of epilepsy overall, especially drug-refractory.

Epileptogenic Zone, Epilepsy Duration, and Interictal Discharges Predict Postoperative Seizure Outcomes

A trio of predictors may help inform which patients may be candidates for resective surgery, as well as improve the postsurgical consideration for re-operation on those who experience disabling seizure recurrence.

Lara Jehi, MD: Epilepsy Treatment Algorithms as Personalized Medicine

The professor of neurology at Cleveland Clinic’s epilepsy center discussed how algorithms can better influence the personalization of medicine, not just in the field of epilepsy, but in medicine as a whole.

In Intractable Epilepsy, Rufinamide is Well-Tolerated and Effective

Data suggest that rufinamide is capable of aiding in the control and reduction of seizures, as well as the possible achievement of seizure-freedom in pediatric patients with genetic/metabolic, hypoxic-ischemic, structural, and other intractable epilepsies.

Sanjeev V. Thomas, MD, DM: Managing Epilepsy During Pregnancy

The chief of neurology at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology spoke about how to reassure patients with epilepsy who are planning for pregnancy and how to make treatment decisions with pregnant patients.

Intermittent Adherence to Ketogenic Diet As Effective as Daily Adherence in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Investigators compared an intermittent low glycemic index therapy diet, a version of the ketogenic diet, to a daily version in pediatric patients with drug-refractory epilepsy.

Sleep Disorders Have Significant Impact on Patients With Epilepsy

Several poster presentations at IEC 2019 suggest that the incidence of comorbid sleep disorders in people with epilepsy is higher than estimated and have a detrimental impact on quality of life and social adjustment.

Cerliponase Alfa Shows Long-Term Success in CLN2 Disease

Patients with CLN2 disease have shown a maintained treatment benefit, high rate of response, and lowering rates of seizure occurrence over 3 years in an ongoing extension trial.

Hannah Cock, MD, MBBS: Challenges in Treating Status Epilepticus

The professor of epilepsy and medical education at St. George’s University Hospital London spoke about the number of challenges plaguing epileptologists when treating patients who present with possible status epilepticus in the hospital.

Anup Patel, MD: The Role of Technology in Epilepsy

The section chief of neurology at Nationwide Children's Hospital spoke about the role of wearable technology in pediatric epilepsy, an area that has the potential to make a major impact on treatment.

Naboso Technology in Multiple Sclerosis

The podiatrist and chief executive officer of Naboso Technology spoke about the potential of textured insoles to help patients with multiple sclerosis improve gait, posture, and balance.

No Drug-Drug Interaction Between Epidiolex and Stiripentol in Epilepsy

The GW Pharmaceuticals cannabidiol formulation, marketed as Epidiolex, did not show any evidence of clinically relevant drug-drug interactions when co-administered in patients with epilepsy.

Improvements in Psychosocial Factors, Quality of Life Key to Epilepsy Surgery Satisfaction

While 65% of patients indicated that they no longer have epilepsy, only a quarter of the study population were actually completely free of seizures postoperatively.

Lara Jehi, MD: Using Algorithms in Epilepsy Care

The professor of neurology at Cleveland Clinic’s epilepsy center spoke about the limitations of individual physicians in making clinical decisions, and how utilizing algorithm data can help improve epilepsy interventions.

Perampanel Does Not Worsen Myoclonic or Absence Seizures in Patients With Epilepsy

Overall, myoclonic and absence seizures worsened in 1.2% and 15.9% more patients in the placebo group, respectively, than those given perampanel. The reductions in seizure frequency and the increases in seizure-free days were also greater with the noncompetitive AMPA receptor antagonist.

Neurorehabilitation Outcomes Similar for Patients With and Without Poststroke Seizures

An assessment of 230 poststroke patients determined that neurorehabilitation outcomes and length of stay did not differ between those with poststroke epileptic seizures and those without.

Intranasal Midazolam Rapidly Effective, Safe Alternative to Intravenous Therapy in Status Epilepticus

Over 57% of patients who received intranasal midazolam were responders, with status epilepticus ceasing within an average of 5:05 minutes.

Perampanel Monotherapy Promotes Seizure Freedom in Previously Untreated Partial Onset Epilepsy

Preliminary results from the 4 mg maintenance period of the FREEDOM study, the first in which perampanel has been examined as monotherapy, were presented at the 2019 International Epilepsy Congress in Bangkok.

Lacosamide Shows Seizure Freedom Success in Epilepsy

In a retrospective study, 51.7% of patients achieved seizure freedom while receiving lacosamide, with seizure freedom rates going as high 88.9% for those who were administered the drug as monotherapy.

Levetiracetam Inferior to Valproate in Generalized, Unclassified Epilepsy

Findings from SANAD II have suggested that levetiracetam is inferior to valproate in time to 12-month and 24-month remission in patients with generalized or unclassified epilepsy.

Amy B. Sullivan, PsyD: Screening MS Patients for Comorbidities

The director of behavioral medicine at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic discussed the importance of screening patients with MS for other conditions for which they are prevalently comorbid, such as depression or sleep disorders.

Peter Goadbsy, MD, PhD, DSc: Atogepant Has Potential as Migraine Prophylactic

The professor of neurology at both the University of California San Francisco and King’s College, London, spoke about the results from a phase 2b/3 study evaluating atogepant for prevention of migraine.

Francois Bethoux, MD: Using the Arts in MS Management

The director of rehabilitation services at Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center for MS spoke about the impact that participation in the arts can have for individuals with multiple sclerosis in dealing with symptoms of their disease.

Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD: Insomnia, a Clinical Diagnosis

The director of the center for circadian and sleep medicine at Northwestern University spoke about the importance of recognizing insomnia as a clinical diagnosis since it affects patients 24-hours a day, not just during sleep.

Laura T. Safar, MD: Carefully Addressing Mental Health in MS

The director of MS neuropsychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital spoke of the importance of not oversimplifying the approach to mental health disorders in individuals with MS, and how the collaborative care model can help.­­­

Emily Splichal, DPM: Using Texture for Nerve Stimulation in the Feet

Many patients with neurologic conditions such as multiple sclerosis are faced with gait and stability issues due to their disease, but Splichal and Naboso Technology seek to address these issues via mechanoreceptor stimulation.