Epileptic Seizures

Dateline: 10/22/98

Some 2.6 million people in the United States alone are affected by epilepsy. By some estimates, nearly 50 different neurological conditions are classified as epileptic with the common factor being seizures. It is often difficult for doctors to determine the origination point of the seizure, a necessary consideration for people who will undergo surgery for their condition. Researchers announced last week that a simple observational technique might assist in determining the localization point.

In a study conducted at the University Clinic in Vienna, Austria with funding from the American Academy of Neurology, approximately 100 patients were observed prior to surgery. After watching videotape of the observations, researchers noticed that the simple gesture of wiping one's nose could accurately predict the localization point of the seizure. Ninety-seven percent of the time, the hand used to wipe the nose accurately reflected the side of the brain where the seizure occurred. Nose wiping with the left hand would indicate a localization point on the left side of the brain.

The neurophysiological and imaging tests used to locate the point of a seizure are very expensive. Scientists are encouraged by the low cost of the new observational techniques. After further study, it may be possible to refine the observational techniques and develop a diagnostic tool to specify the point of origin of a seizure. Researchers hope to continue the studies using additional observational techniques.

Scientists cautioned that the participants in the study had hard-to-treat seizures as well as seizures that were confined to a single side of the brain. Patients with other types of epilepsy might not produce similar results.

Interestingly enough, wiping the nose is a reaction to increased fluid in the nasal passages. People with temporal lobe seizures often develop this reaction after a number of seizures.

What do you think? Are there other observational diagnostics that might be useful? Are these diagnostics often overlooked due to their simplicity? Come over to the Biology Forum to share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions.

For additional information see:

• Nose Wiping - Identifies Origin of Epileptic Seizure
  News release about the study from Science Daily.