Review of Epilepsy - Etiology, Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment

Abstract

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the US, affecting nearly 2.5 million Americans. The economic impact of epilepsy represents estimated direct and indirect costs of 12.5 billion dollars per year. Patients with this disorder experience increased morbidity and mortality with long term fatality rates of 24%. Multiple diagnostic tools are used to identify and classify the seizure type/syndrome, etiology and localization of seizures, including electroencephalogram (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magneto encephalogram (MEG), and neuropsychiatric testing. Despite 29 different antiepileptic medications that are available in the US, one third of patients remain refractory to pharmacological treatment. In these intractable epilepsy patients, non-pharmacological treatments can be considered. Commonly used non-pharmacological treatment options for epilepsy include epilepsy surgery, neurostimulation therapy, and diet therapy. Keywords: