Two studies examined the role of bacterial infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae in worsening of MS symptoms. In one of these, researchers from the United States, Canada and the Netherlands found that subclinical infection did not cause MS, but it did increase the risk of exacerbations in the relapsing-remitting form of MS. These results suggest that a trial of antibiotic treatment of such infections is warranted because it may help mitigate disease exacerbation in some patients.

Epilepsy For many patients with epilepsy, surgery that removes pat of the temporal lobe (a portion of the brain above and in front of the ear) effectively reduces the number and severity of seizures. Researchers from Rush Medical College, Chicago, showed that while 25 percent of patients develop post-surgical psychiatric complications, including depression and mania, these respond very well to drug therapy, and were not associated with poorer seizure reduction or type of temporal lobe epilepsy.

The success of epilepsy surgery was examined in children under three years old who had delayed mental development and were not adequately treated by antiseizure medicines. Surgery reduced seizures and the number of antiseizure drugs required, and most infants improved in their rate of mental development, according to researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Investigators at Wayne State University showed that patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who refused surgery had progressive atrophy of the hippocampus if seizures continued. In patients who became seizure-free from medical treatment, the loss of hippocampal tissue was arrested. This is further evidence that temporal lobe epilepsy is a progressive disorder that requires aggressive treatment, including surgery if indicated, to eliminate seizures.

Alzheimers disease The frank dementia of Alzheimers disease is often preceded by a long
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Contact: Marilee Reu
mreu@aan.com
651-695-2789
American Academy of Neurology
14-Apr-2003