Pediatric Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Therapy

The extensively updated third edition of Pediatric Epilepsy: Diagnosis and Therapy continues to be the definitive volume on the diagnosis, treatment, classification, and management of the childhood epilepsies.
Written by nearly 100 international leaders in the field, this new edition progresses logically with major sections on the basic mechanisms of the disease, classification, epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and age-related syndromes of epilepsy. The core of the new third edition is its completely updated section on antiepileptic drugs, including an in-depth discussion of dosage considerations, drug toxicity, teratogenicity, and drug interactions, with recommendations for optimal combinations when multiple drug therapy is required.

Features unique to the third edition include:

Expanded section on the basic science and mechanism of epilepsy
Completely updated drug chapters, including newly released drugs and those in development
Expanded chapters on vagus nerve stimulation and surgical treatment
Expanded section on co-morbidities
The third edition includes 21 new chapters, including discussions of: epileptic channelopathies; epileptogenic cerebral cortical malformation; epilepsy genes; etiologies and workup; evidence-based medicine issues related to drug selection; Levetiracetam; Sulthiame; Pregabalin; herbal medications; basic and advanced imaging; immunotherapy issues; vagus nerve stimulation therapy; cognitive and psychiatric co-morbidities and educational placement; and psychosocial aspects of epilepsy.

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Reviews

"Up-to-date, well presented and accessible. Recommended to all those who are interested in epilepsy even if they do not have a particular interest in pediatrics." -- Journal of Neurology
"This second edition of a book that has already become a classic maintains the high standard of the previous edition...All child neurologists, but also all those who have to deal professionally with childhood epilepsy will want to have this book on their shelf for frequent use...it is undoubtedly a major work on this subject." -- Epileptic Disorders

"Comprehensive, well illustrated, and smartly organized book on pediatric epilepsy... An extremely well composed book by multiple authors who are prominent in their field. It is undoubtedly one of the most useful resources on pediatric epilepsy in print to date."--Doody's Reviews

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Contents

Basic Mechanisms; Pathophysiology of Seizures and Epilepsy in the Immature Brain: Cells, Synapses, and Circuits; Neuronal Networks in Epilepsy and Neuronal Excitability; Epileptic Channelopathies; Metabolic and Pharmacologic Consequences of Seizures; The Pathology of Epilepsy; Epileptic Cerebral Cortical Malformations; Genetic Influences on Risk for Epilepsy; Classification, Epidemiology, Etiology, and Diagnosis; Classification of Epilepsies in Childhood; Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Children; An Approach to the Child with Paroxysmal Phenomena with Emphasis on Nonepileptic Disorders; Evaluating the Child with Seizure; The Use of Electroencephalography in the Diagnosis of Epilepsy in Childhood; Basics of Neuroimaging in Pediatric Epilepsy; Age-Related Syndromes; Neonatal Seizures; Severe Encephalopathic Epilepsy in Early Infancy; West Syndrome; Myoclonic Epilepsies of Infancy; Partial Epilepsies in Infancy; Febrile Seizures; Generalized Epilepsies with Febrile Seizures; Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome; Childhood Absence Epilepsies; Benign Focal Epilepsies of Childhood; Landau-Kleffner Syndrome; Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies of Adolescence; Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsies; Localization-Related Epilepsies: Simple Partial Seizures, Complex Partial Seizures, and Rasmussen Syndrome; Selected Disorders Associated with Epilepsy; General Principles of Therapy; Treatment Decisions in Childhood Seizures; Comparative Anticonvulsant Profile and Proposed Mechanisms of Action of Antiepileptic Drugs; Evidence-Based Medicine Issues Related to Drug Selection; Combination Drug Therapy; Adverse Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs, Drug-Related Seizure Exacerbation, and Monitoring of Therapy; Status Epilepticus and Acute Seizures; Epilepsy and Child-Bearing (Fetal Effects); Teratogenic Effects of Epileptic Medications; Pharmacokinetic Principles of Antiepileptic Therapy in Children; Dosage Form Considerations in the Treatment of Pediatric Epilepsy; Drug Interations; Antiepileptic Drugs and Ketogenic Diet; ACTH and Steroids; Benzodiazepines; Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine; Ethosuximide, Methsuximide, and Trimethadione; Felbamate; Gabapentin and Pregabalin; Lamotrigine; Levetiracetam; Pheonbarbital and Primidone; Phenytoin and Related Drugs; Sulthiame; Tiagabine; Topiramate; Valproate; Vigabatrin; Vitamins, Dietary Considerations; and Alternative Therapies; Zonisamide; The Ketogenic Diet; Immunotherapy Issues, Antiepileptic Drugs in Development; Epilepsy Surgery and Vagus Nerve Stimulation; Neurophysiologic Evaluation; Advanced Imaging Evaluation; Surgical Treatment: Surgery and Outcome; Outcome of Surgery in Children; Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy in Pediatric Patients: Uses and Effectiveness; Psychosocial Aspects; Costs of Pediatric Epilepsy; Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, and IQ; Cognitive and Psychiatric Co-Morbidities and Educational Placement; Cognitive Side Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs; Migraine and Epilepsy.
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About the Editors

John M. Pellock, MD
John M. Pellock, MD is Chairman of the Division of Child Neurology, Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurology and Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics at the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, in Richmond, Virginia.

Blaise F.D. Bourgeois, MD

Blaise F.D. Bourgeois, MD is Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology at Children's Hospital Boston.

Edwin W. Dodson, MD

W. Edwin Dodson, MD is Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Admissions and Continuing Medical Education and Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the Washington University School of Medicine.

Douglas R. Nordli, Jr., MD

Douglas R. Nordli, Jr., MD is the Lorna S. and James P. Langdon Chair of Pediatric Epilepsy at Northwestern University School of Medicine and Director, Children's Memorial Epilepsy Center at Children's Memorial Hospital.

Raman Sankar, MD, PhD

Raman Sankar, MD, PhD is Professor and Chief of Pediatric Neurology and Rubin Brown Distinguished Chair at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.