372.2 🩺 國考版

372.2.1 高頻考點

372.2.1.1 Epilepsy Definition

  • ≥ 2 unprovoked seizures > 24 hr apart, OR
  • 1 + ≥ 60% recurrence risk, OR
  • Syndrome

372.2.1.2 Provoked Causes

  • Hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia
  • Alcohol withdrawal
  • Drug toxicity (cocaine, amphetamine)
  • Drug withdrawal
  • Fever (febrile)
  • Stroke
  • Head injury
  • CNS infection

372.2.1.3 Distinguishing from Syncope

  • Aura (more specific seizure)
  • Tonic-clonic
  • Lateral tongue bite (specific)
  • Post-ictal confusion (minutes)
  • Convulsive syncope: brief jerks during syncope, no post-ictal

372.2.1.4 Distinguishing from PNES

  • Eyes closed (vs open in epileptic)
  • Asynchronous movements
  • Pelvic thrusting
  • Side-to-side head movements
  • Memory recall during event
  • No post-ictal
  • Normal EEG during event
  • Video-EEG gold standard

372.2.1.5 Absence

  • 3 Hz spike-wave EEG
  • Childhood
  • No post-ictal
  • Ethosuximide (best for absence only) or valproate
  • Lamotrigine alternative

372.2.1.6 JME (Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy)

  • Adolescent onset
  • Myoclonic (morning)
    • GTC + sometimes absence
  • Photosensitive
  • Valproate most effective (avoid in women of childbearing age — use levetiracetam, lamotrigine)

372.2.1.7 ASMs by Type

Type First-Line
Focal Levetiracetam, lamotrigine, lacosamide, cenobamate, carbamazepine
Generalized Valproate, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, topiramate
Absence Ethosuximide, valproate
Myoclonic Valproate, levetiracetam
Lennox-Gastaut Valproate, lamotrigine, clobazam, rufinamide, cannabidiol
Dravet Valproate, clobazam, stiripentol, cannabidiol, fenfluramine

372.2.1.8 Avoid in Myoclonic

  • Carbamazepine
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Phenytoin
  • Gabapentin
  • Tiagabine

372.2.1.9 Drug Interactions

  • Enzyme inducers: carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital (↓ OCP, warfarin, etc.)
  • Valproate: enzyme inhibitor
  • Levetiracetam: minimal interactions (renal)
  • Lamotrigine: ↑ by valproate, ↓ by inducers

372.2.1.10 HLA-B*1502

  • Asian populations
  • Risk of CBZ-induced SJS/TEN
  • Screen before starting CBZ
  • Also affects oxcarbazepine, phenytoin

372.2.1.11 Cannabidiol (Epidiolex)

  • FDA-approved Dravet, LGS, TSC
  • Drug interactions (clobazam, valproate)
  • Hepatotoxicity monitoring

372.2.1.12 Status Epilepticus

  • See Ch372

372.2.1.13 SUDEP

  • ~ 1.2/1000 patient-years
  • Counsel especially refractory
  • Risk factors: GTC, refractory, nocturnal