Various Aspects of Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ekaterina Viteva^1,

¹Department of Neurology, Medical University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Cite this paper

Ekaterina Viteva. Various Aspects of Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2020; 8(2):43-48. doi: 10.12691/AJCMR-8-2-4

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly and globally spreading novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The purpose of this review is to summarize the available data about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with epilepsy, epilepsy diagnosis and treatment and focus attention on the consensus measures about their optimization. We have presented the different aspects of associations between epilepsy and COVID-19 - medical history of epilepsy and COVID-19, seizures and/or status epilepticus and COVID-19. Neurologists and patients with epilepsy face a variety of challenges in the process of disease management - challenges related to precaution measures, worsening of seizure control, performance and interpretation of diagnostic procedures, choice of antiepileptic drugs and antiviral agents due to drug-drug interactions, adverse events, reduced supplies, as well as challenges associated with increased level of emotional stress and uncertainty and worse levels of physical fitness. They require adequate coping strategies regarding COVID-19 prevention, good seizure control maintenance, delay of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures when possible, correct EEG performance and interpretation, minimizing the risk of adverse drug-drug interactions, providing telemedicine services, purchase of the prescribed antiepileptic drugs for a longer period of time, maintaining mental health and physical fitness lifestyle, spreading of correct information through reliable sources. Conclusion: The variety of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for patients with epilepsy and caring neurologists during COVID-19 pandemic require timely, adequate and multi-aspect coping strategies, as well as individual approach to every patient to prevent complications.

Keywords

epilepsy, seizures, COVID-19, strategy, drug

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References

[1]	Kuroda, N., “Epilepsy and COVID-19: Associations and important considerations”, Epilepsy & Behav, 108 [107122]. 2020.
[2]	Epilepsy Society, “Epilepsy and the coronavirus (COVID-19)”, FAQs, (Available from):https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/epilepsy-and- coronavirus-covid-19-faqs#.XouB1YhKhPZ.
[3]	French, J., Brodie, M., Caraballo, R., Devinsky, O., Ding, D., Jehi, L., Jette, N., Kanner, A., Modi, A., Newton, C., Patel, A., Pennell, P., Perucca, E., Sander, J., Scheffer, I., Singh, G., Williams, E., Wilmshurst, J., Cross, H., “Keeping people with epilepsy safe during the COVID-19 pandemic“, Neurology, 94: 1-6. 2020.
[4]	Moriguchi, T., Harr, N., Goto, J., Harada, D., Suqawara, H., Takamino, J., Ueno, M., Sakata, H., Kondo, K., Myose, N., Nakao, A., Takeda, M., Haro, H., Suzuki-Inoue, K., Kubokawa, K., Oqihara, S., Sasaki, T., Kinouchi, H., Kojin, H., Ito, M., Onishi, H., Shimizu, T., Sasaki, Y., Enomoto, N., Ishihara, H., Furuya, S., Yamamoto, T., Shimada, S., „A first case of meningitis/encephalitis associated with SARS-Coronavirus-2“, IJID 94: 55-58.2020.
[5]	Asadi-Pooya, A., “Seizures associated with coronavirus infections”, Seizure 79: 49-52. 2020.
[6]	Sohal, S., Mansur, M., “COVID-19 presenting with seizures”, IDCases 20: e00782. 2020.
[7]	Fasano, A., Cavallieri, F., Canali, E., Valzania, F., “First motor seizure as presenting symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection”, Neurol Sci, 41, 1651-1653. 2020.
[8]	Ye, M., Ren, Y., Lv, T., “Encephalitis as a clinical manifestation of COVID-19”, Brain Behav Immun S0889-1593. 2020. E-pub.
[9]	Trinka, E., “Antiseizure Medications and Challenges in the Covid19 Pandemic - Focus on Drug Interactions“, Epi Care. 2020. E-pub.
[10]	Kinney, M.O., Brigo, F., Kaplan, P.W., “Optinizing Status epilepticus care during the COVID-19 pandemic“, Epilepsy & Behav, 109 [107124]. 2020.
[11]	Vollono, C., Rollo, E., Romozzi, M., Frisullo, G., Servidei, S., Borghetti, A., Calabresi, P., “Focal status epilepticus as unique clinical feature of COVID-19: A case report”, Seizure, 78, 109-112. 2020.
[12]	Crepin, S., Goder, B., Chassin, B., Preux, P.M., Desport, J.C., “Malnutrition and epilepsy: a two-way relationship|”. Clin Nutr, 28, 219-225. 2009.
[13]	Gelisse, P., Rossetti, A., Genton, P., Crespel, A., Kaplan, P., “How to carry out and interpret EEG recordings in COVID-19 patients in ICU?” Clin Neurophysiol, 131(8), 2023-2031. 2020.
[14]	Tatum, W.O., Adult Electroencephalography Artifact, In Tatum WO, editor, Atlas of Artifacts in Clinical Neurophysiology, New York Demos Medical, 111-182. 2018.
[15]	Yoo, J.Y., Gaspard, N., Hirsch, L.J., Alkawadri, R., “Respiratory artifact on EEG independent of the respirator”, J Clin Neurophysiol, 31, e16-e17. 2014.
[16]	World Health Organization (b), „COVID-19” v4, Operational Support & Logistics Disease Commodity Packages.
[17]	Rampal, N., Maciel, C.B., Hirsch, L.J., “Electroencephalography and Artifact in the Intensive Care Unit“, In: Tatum W.O., editor. Atlas of Artifacts in Clinical Neurophysiology. Demos Medical, New York, 60-93, 2018.
[18]	Landmark, C., Perucca, E., “Antiseizure mediations and challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus on drug interactions”, European webinar, April 27, 2020. E-pub.
[19]	Garcia, A.B., Ibarra, A.L., Etessam, J.P., Salio, A.M., Martinez, D.A.P., Diaz, R.S., Heras, M.T., „Protease Inhibitor-Induced Carbamazepine Toxicity“, Clin Neuropharmacol, 23(4), 216-218. 2000.
[20]	Vancini, R.L., de Lira, C.A.B., Andrade, M.S., Arida, R., “CoVID-19 vs. epilepsy: it is time to move, act and encourage physical activity”, Epilepsy & Behav, [107154]. 2020.
[21]	World Health Organization (WHO), “Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports“, Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus- 2019/situation-reports.
[22]	World Health Organization (WHO), “Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak“, Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf.
[23]	Li, S., Wang, Y., Xue, J., Zhao, N., Zhu, T., “The impact of COVID-19 epidemic declaration on psychological consequences: a study on active Weibo users“, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17E2032. 2020.
[24]	Roth, C., Ferbert, A., Deinsberger, W., Kleffmann, J., Kästner, S., Godau, J., „Does prone positioning increase intracranial pressure? A retrospective analysis of patients with acute brain injury and acute respiratory failure“, Neurocrit Care, 21: 186-191. 2014.
[25]	Malhotra,A., Kacmarek, R.M., „Prone ventilation for adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome“, In: Parsons PE, section editor and Finlay G, deputy editor: UpToDate®. Wolters Kluwers, Apr 21, 2020.
[26]	Gélisse, P., Crespel, A., Genton, P., E.E.G. vol. 3. John Libbey Eurotext; Montrouge, 2019. Neurology and Critical Care. (Atlas of Electroencephalography).
[27]	Kaplan, P.W., Gélisse, P., Sutter, R., “An Electroencephalographic Voyage in search of Triphasic Waves (TWs) - the Sirens and Corsairs on the Encephalopathy/EEG horizon: a survey of TWs.“ J Clin Neurophysiol, 2020 [in press].
[28]	Brigo, F., Bonavita, S., Leocani, L., Tedeschi, G., Lavorgna, L., Digital Technologies, Web and Social Media Study Group of the Italian Society of Neurology, “Telemedicine and the challenge of epilepsy management at the time of COVID-19 pandemic“, Epilepsy & Behav, 110 [107164]. 2020.
[29]	Kissani, N., Lengané, Y.T.M., Patterson, V., Mesraoua, B., Dawn, E., Ozkara, C., “Telemedicine in epilepsy: how can we improve care, teaching, and awareness?“ Epilepsy & Behav, 03 [106854]. 2020.
[30]	Bahrani, K., Singh, M.B., Bhatia, R., Prasad, K., Vibha, D., Shukla, G., “Telephonic review for outpatients with epilepsy-a prospective randomized, parallel group study“, Seizure, 53, 55-61. 2017.
[31]	Reider-Demer, M., Raja, P., Martin, N., Schwinger, M., Babayan, D., “Prospective and retrospective study of videoconference telemedicine follow-up after elective neurosurgery: results of a pilot program“. Neurosurg Rev, 41, 497-501. 2018.
[32]	Kissani, N., Brodie, M., Lengané, Y.T.M., Eliashiv, D., Ozkara, C., Patterson, V., “IBE Commission on e-Solutions, game plan“, Epilepsy & Behav, 84, 179-181, 2018.
[33]	Vancini, R.L., de Lira, C.A., Arida, R.M., “Alternative medicine as a coping strategy for people with epilepsy: can exercise of religion and spirituality be part of this context?“, Epilepsy & Behav, 31, 194-195. 2014.
[34]	Cairney, J., Kwan, M., Veldhuizen, S., Faulkner, G.E.J., “Who uses exercise as a coping strategy for stress? Results from a national survey of Canadians“, J Phys Act Health, 11, 908-916. 2014.
[35]	Livneh, H., Wilson, L.M., Duchesneau, A., Antonak, R.F., “Psychosocial adaptation to epilepsy: the role of coping strategies“. Epilepsy & Behav, 2, 533-544. 2001.