The paper describes the clinical, electroencephalographic (EEG), and neuroimaging features of focal epileptic myoclonus (FEM) and the results of therapy in patients with this type of seizure. The latter was identified in 2.5 % of the cases of epilepsy with onset beyond the age of 18 years (n = 1261). The age of onset of FЕМ was from 5 months to 23 years (mean 8.1 ± 1.6 years). The addition of secondary generalized seizures was stated in 90.3% of cases; that of focal motor seizures, epileptic aura, and negative FЕМ was seen in 64.5, 25.8, and 12.8 %, respectively. FЕМ was most commonly located in the flexor muscles of the upper extremities (22.6 %) and facial and upper limb muscles (25.6 %). The regional epileptoform
activity maximally located in the frontocentroparietal leads is a typical EEG pattern of FЕМ in all the patients. Magnetic resonance imaging most frequently revealed diffuse cortical and subcortical atrophy (29 %) and total cortical hemiatrophy (32 %). There was no case of complete remission of FЕМ. Monotherapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) resulted in reduction of FЕМ in only 6.4 % of cases. During duo therapy, there was more than a 50 % reduction in FЕМ in 67.7 %. Our investigation has indicated that active FЕМ is a seizure type resistant to AEDs. This fact necessitates the detection of FЕМ at its early stages in order to predict the course of the disease and search for new therapies for epileptic syndromes associated with this type of seizures.

The paper deals with the study of a group of patients with tonic seizures, by taking into account their nosological, anamnestic, clinical, electroencephalographic, and neuroimaging features.

One of the most actual problems in emergency neurology is therapy of status epilepticus (SE). Antiepileptic drugs used in therapy of SE must be: 1) simple in usage; 2) have rapid action; 3) have prolonged antiepileptic action; 4) demonstrate minimal side effects on cardiorespiratory system and other vital functions. Unfortunately, such drugs traditional used in therapy of SE as benzodiazepines, phenytoin and barbiturates don’t fulfill all this four qualities. Numerous clinical investigations of last 15 years demonstrated that such drugs are intravenous valproates. Intravenous form of valproate (Convulex) is rational alternative for benzodiazepines in convulsive SE and drug of choice in treatment of symptomatic status in acute brain disturbances and in patients in coma, at non-convulsive forms of SE and in cases of high risk of depression of cardiorespiratory activity. Treatment of SE could be started from high intravenous rapid dose 15 mg / kg given in 5 minutes. 30 minutes later intravenous infusion therapy 1 mg / kg / hour with Convulex should be done. Moderate doses of intravenous Convulex for adults are 20 mg / kg, for adolescents – 25 mg / kg, and for children – 30 mg / kg.

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy characterized by adolescent onset with massive myoclonic
seizures and, in most cases, convulsive seizures occurring mainly on awakening. According to the Proposed Diagnostic Schema for People
with Epileptic Seizures and with Epilepsy (2001), JME is classified into a group of idiopathic generalized epilepsy with a variable phenotype. The authors give the genetic bases of the disease, describe its clinical picture in detail, including the atypical course of JME, and consider diagnostic criteria, approaches to patient management, and principles of medical therapy. By taking into account the most common precipitating factors, along with drug therapy, the sleep and wake regimen must be strictly adhered to and household photo stimulation be avoided. Complete medical remission is achieved in about 90 % of patients (on correctly chosen therapy), in most cases on monotherapy. However, the problem resides in high recurrence rates after withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs. The major predictors of increased risk for a recurrence after
therapy discontinuation are considered.

Despite a considerable advance made in epileptology, resistant epilepsies are about 30% among all epilepsy types particularly in patients with focal seizures. In these cases, there is hope for the success of neurosurgical treatment and the synthesis of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The authors provide a review of the literature dealing the new AED perampanel (Fycompa) and consider its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical and postmarketing trials of its efficacy, tolerability, and safety. Based on the data available in the literature, it may be concluded that parampanel is a promising highly effective and well tolerated AED to treat partial and secondary generalized seizures.

Eating epilepsy (EE) is one of the types of reflex epilepsy. The authors give the definition, classification position, possible pathogenic mechanisms and etiological factors associated with EE, as well as the semiology of seizures, the data of neuroimaging and electroencephalography and approaches to patient management and drug treatment. They also describe their observation of an 11-month-old girl with symptomatic focal temporal lobe epilepsy with focal dialeptic seizures provoked by eating.

This paper describes a case of PANDAS in a 12-year-old girl. The unusual clinical manifestations and course of the disease as long-term sneezing attacks make the diagnosis of the syndrome difficult. Long-term video-assisted electroencephalographic monitoring, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and blood biochemical tests could define the nature of the condition. Antibiotic therapy and intravenous immunoglobulin could achieve remission. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin in this syndrome.