Spotlight on the Penn Epilepsy Center
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder
characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. It is tremendously debilitating and affects over three million Americans of all ages.
Seizures can occur at any time, often without
warning. The frequency varies from person to
person, ranging from many per day to one per
year. Epileptic seizures can have many far-reaching
implications for a patient's quality of
life, including medical, emotional and psychological
effects.
Some of the known causes of epilepsy include
head trauma, brain infections (including meningitis,
encephalitis and brain
abscess), stroke, brain
tumors, and genetic disease. But in about half
of the patient population no exact cause for
epilepsy can be found, despite thorough testing.
Hope for Patients with Epilepsy
The Penn
Epilepsy Center (PEC) provides the highest
standard of care for patients with epilepsy
and related problems. The center offers a full
continuum of care, including state-of-the-art
diagnostic techniques, cutting-edge research,
medical treatments, surgery and support services.
Both outpatient evaluation and inpatient care
are available via this full-service facility.
According to Peter
Crino, MD, PhD, director
of the Penn Epilepsy Center: “The center's
mission is to identify patients with seizures,
provide them with therapy to make the seizures
stop, and allow them to feel good and live as
normal lives as possible.”
Staff
members of the PEC are internationally
recognized leaders in the research, diagnosis,
medical and surgical treatment of epilepsy. Faculty
members have published hundreds of clinical and
scientific articles relating to epilepsy, and
their research is funded by the National Institutes
of Health. The center's fully-integrated,
multi-disciplinary
team includes seven neurologists
with specialty training in the care and treatment
of epilepsy patients, neurosurgeons specializing
in epilepsy surgery, as well as nursing staff,
clinical research coordinators, registered technicians,
neuropsychologists and social workers.
Medication can control from 60 to 70 percent
of the symptoms of epilepsy reasonably well.
However, some medications can have potent side
effects, and about 30 percent of the patients
require more aggressive management (two or more
medications). Some patients may not respond to
medications at all. This may necessitate additional
evaluation from the experts at the Penn Epilepsy
Center.
State-of-the-Art Imaging
The center offers neuroimaging studies, including
digital electroencephalography
(EEG), high-resolution
magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), positron
emission tomography (PET), and single photon
emission computed tomography (SPECT). In some
cases, these studies help physicians diagnose
and classify epileptic and non-epileptic seizures
without hospital admission.
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
Penn's state-of-the-art four-bed epilepsy
monitoring unit features video EEG for the evaluation
of individuals with difficult-to-manage epilepsy
who are candidates for surgery and for differential
diagnosis. Specialists in neurology, neurosurgery,
neuropsychology and psychiatry combine their
expertise to evaluate each patient in the unit.
Evaluation begins with long-term monitoring
using EEG and video to capture the electrical
activity and symptoms that occur during a seizure.
Depending on the type of surgery being considered,
a number of other diagnostic tests may be required,
such as SPECT and PET scans to evaluate metabolism
and blood flow to the area where the seizure
is suspected to originate.
Sometimes individuals experience events that
may or may not be epileptic seizures. Capturing
these events with video and EEG monitoring often
points to the correct diagnosis and proper therapy.
In addition, intracranial monitoring with electrodes
implanted into the brain is sometimes necessary
for a definitive evaluation prior to surgery.
Monitoring allows physicians to pinpoint the
location in the brain where the seizures originate,
design a treatment plan and determine whether
the patient is a candidate for surgery. A wide
variety of surgical treatments are available
for patients with epilepsy. When performed by
a qualified neurosurgeon on appropriately selected
patients, epilepsy surgery often eliminates seizures.
Cutting-Edge Research
The research performed at the Penn Epilepsy Center
focuses on understanding the causes of epilepsy
in order to develop new treatments and to gain
a better understanding about why and how seizures
occur. Patients whose seizures are not controlled
by standard medications are offered the opportunity
to participate in investigational drug studies
and clinical trials testing new medications
and other therapies to treat epilepsy. Other
basic science research to understand the molecular
causes of epilepsy is also being conducted.
Patient and Family Support
Recognizing the impact that epilepsy has on the
lives of patients and their loved ones, the
Penn Epilepsy Center offers a variety of support
services for people with all types of epilepsy.
Neuropsychologists on staff assess patients
to identify and monitor mental, behavioral
and emotional symptoms before and after treatment.
They also provide behavioral therapies to help
patients and their families cope with the psychological
changes associated with epilepsy.
For information on epilepsy, visit the Penn
Epilepsy Center or call 800-789-PENN
(7366).
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