Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy最新文献

{"title":"Tocilizumab for super-refractory status epilepticus in children with FIRES: A case series","authors":"Sumitha Murugesu,&nbsp;Ahmad Rithauddin Mohamed,&nbsp;Husna Binti Musa,&nbsp;Jun Xiong Lee,&nbsp;Muhamad Azamin Anuar,&nbsp;Teik Beng Khoo","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy that can occur at any age, with limited treatment options. Conventional immunotherapies often show poor efficacy. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of the interleukin-6 receptor blocker, tocilizumab, in children with FIRES.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively reviewed medical records, electroencephalography, and neuroimaging of seven children with FIRES treated at our center between 2018 and 2022. Outcomes included cessation of super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE), seizure burden, and functional outcome using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) scale.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seven previously healthy children (median age 9 years; range 2–13) developed SRSE following febrile illness. Extensive investigations, including cerebrospinal fluid studies, viral panels, and autoimmune testing were negative, consistent with cryptogenic FIRES<strong>.</strong> Initial MRI was normal in six children; one showed symmetrical T2/FLAIR hyperintensities involving deep grey matter structures. All patients received a multimodal therapeutic strategy including intravenous midazolam, high-dose phenobarbitone, ketogenic diet, therapeutic hypothermia, and/or immunotherapy—prior to tocilizumab. Intravenous tocilizumab was initiated at a median of 17 days from illness onset (range 6–46). SRSE resolved within a median of 5 days (range 2–12) after administration. At 6-month follow-up, six of seven patients developed chronic epilepsy, characterised by weekly to monthly seizures, while one remained seizure free. Functional recovery was noted in four patients, each achieving a Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) score of ≤2. Adverse events included grade 2 leukopenia or diarrhoea (<em>n</em> = 3) and grade 4 sepsis (<em>n</em> = 1); all resolved with treatment. No deaths occurred.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Tocilizumab was associated with rapid resolution of SRSE, seizure reduction, and functional recovery in children with FIRES, with manageable side effects. While causality cannot be confirmed given concurrent therapies and variable timing of administration, these findings support consideration of interleukin-6 blockade as a potential adjunctive treatment in FIRES.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 180-185"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145769672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex differences in the clinical characteristics of South African patients with functional seizures in a public and a private hospital","authors":"Gabriele Vilyte ,&nbsp;James Butler ,&nbsp;Victoria Ives-Deliperi ,&nbsp;Chrisma Pretorius","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Functional seizures (FS) are approximately three times more common in females than in males. However, the factors associated with this gender imbalance are not well understood.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective chart review study included 372 patients with FS (305 from a private and 67 from a public hospital) confirmed through video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) and without comorbid epilepsy. We collected data on psychological trauma, stressors, comorbidities, medical procedure history, medication use, and seizure semiology to identify clinical factors associated with female sex in this patient cohort. The study was conducted in a private and a public hospital epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) based in Cape Town, South Africa.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the private hospital, female patients with FS had higher odds of reporting a history of sexual abuse (aOR = 9.58, 95 % CI [1.28, 72.02]) and lower odds of loss of consciousness during a seizure (aOR = 0.46, 95 % CI [0.23, 0.91]) compared to male patients. Female public hospital patients had higher odds of reporting a history of any psychological trauma/stressor (aOR = 3.64, 95 % CI [1.11, 11.88]), side-to-side head movements during seizures (aOR = 6.37, 95 % CI [1.16, 34.98]) and lower odds of reporting a history of at least one failed ASM trial (aOR = 0.27, 95 % CI [0.08, 0.88]).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study, the first of its kind in South Africa, found that while male and female patients with FS shared broadly similar clinical profiles, differences in trauma exposure, antiseizure medication history, and semiology varied by sex and socioeconomic context. These findings underscore the importance of heightened clinical awareness regarding the influence of sex and social determinants on symptom presentation and diagnostic interpretation, thereby reducing diagnostic delays and ensuring more equitable FS management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 204-210"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145821721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimal cutoff score for diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale in people living with epilepsy: A systematic review with diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis","authors":"Minjung Kim ,&nbsp;Rock Bum Kim ,&nbsp;Tae-Won Yang ,&nbsp;Young-Soo Kim ,&nbsp;Do-Hyung Kim ,&nbsp;Oh-Young Kwon","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and Purpose</h3><div>The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) is a self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety-related symptoms experienced over the past two weeks. The GAD-7 is widely used to screen for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and reported optimal cutoff scores for detecting GAD in people living with epilepsy (PLWE) range between &gt;6 and &gt;9. This meta-analysis aims to determine the most appropriate GAD-7 cutoff score for PLWE.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We identified relevant studies through comprehensive searches in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies included original research examining GAD-7 accuracy for detecting GAD in adult PLWE, using structured diagnostic interviews including the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview as a reference standard. Only studies providing sufficient data for meta-analysis were included, including the number of PLWE with GAD, the total participant number, sensitivity, and specificity. We performed summary receiver operating characteristic curve analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Seven studies conducted in outpatient epilepsy clinics were included. The area under the curve (AUC) ranged between 0.91 and 0.96 across cutoff scores from &gt;5 to &gt;9. The cutoff score of &gt;6 provided the best balance of diagnostic accuracy, with an AUC of 0.96, sensitivity of 0.95, and specificity of 0.83.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The GAD-7 cutoff score of &gt;6 has optimal diagnostic performance for screening GAD in PLWE. These results offer valuable guidance for clinicians and researchers applying the GAD-7 questionnaire to detect GAD among PLWE, especially in geographic areas without previously validated language-specific versions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 229-237"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145866209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minimally invasive ictal EEG source localization including sphenoidal electrodes – a retrospective study and a meta-analysis","authors":"Kara Goetz ,&nbsp;Jakob I. Doerrfuss ,&nbsp;Martin Holtkamp ,&nbsp;Bernd J. Vorderwülbecke","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><u>Background:</u> In patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy, minimally invasive sphenoidal electrodes can enhance presurgical video-EEG monitoring. Placed into the infratemporal fossa, these electrodes record EEG activity from the mesial temporal lobe. We hypothesized that inclusion of the signal from sphenoidal electrodes would improve the diagnostic sensitivity of ictal EEG source localization (ESL).</div><div><u>Methods:</u> We retrospectively included patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy, presurgical low-density EEG including bilateral sphenoidal electrodes, subsequent resective surgery and favorable 1-year seizure outcome (ILAE class 1-2). Per seizure, ESL was conducted separately with vs. without signals from sphenoidal electrodes. Source maxima were compared to the resected zone. For comparison with the literature, we added a univariate random-effects meta-analysis of previous ictal ESL studies.</div><div><u>Results:</u> ESL was applied to 184 seizures of 42 patients (39 with anterior temporal lobe epilepsy). At seizure level, ESL with vs. without sphenoidal electrodes achieved diagnostic sensitivities of 68 % (95 %-CI: 61–75 %) vs. 46 % (39–53 %; <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Patient-level diagnostic sensitivity was 50 % (35–65 %) vs. 19 % (7–31 %; <em>p</em> = 0.002). The meta-analysis of ten studies on 233 patients resulted in a patient-level summary sensitivity of 68 % (44–84 %) albeit with substantial heterogeneity (I²=0.689).</div><div><u>Conclusions:</u> As a proof of principle, sphenoidal electrodes significantly improved the diagnostic sensitivity of ictal ESL in absence of subtemporal scalp electrodes. Previous studies on ictal ESL yielded substantially heterogenous results, depending on their specific methodology. In presurgical epilepsy cases evaluated with both sphenoidal electrodes and ictal ESL, both techniques should be combined as presented here.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 45-53"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145574799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scoping review: Sexual dysfunction in people with epilepsy","authors":"Sumika Ouchida ,&nbsp;Armin Nikpour ,&nbsp;Greg Fairbrother","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>There are many comorbidities related to epilepsy that affect the quality of life of people with epilepsy (PWE); sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of them.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>We conducted a review to identify gaps in the literature to estimate the size of the problem and examined sexual dysfunction types, factors associated with SD, epilepsy care management, and facilitators/barriers reported for treatment success/failure.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We searched for articles on sexual dysfunction, sexual problems, sexual behaviour, and erectile dysfunction in relation to epilepsy. We searched research databases, including Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, and PubMed, for articles written in English and published between 2000 and 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There is a high prevalence of SD in PWE, and multiple factors have been identified as being associated with SD. A range of validated questionnaire-based SD assessments is available. SD affects men and women differently. While several treatments and therapies are available to manage SD, there is limited evidence supporting their use for PWE. Healthcare professionals' lack of education relevant to SD affects their ability to treat PWE effectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Sexual problems are common in PWE. Healthcare providers should investigate drug-induced sexual problems as they can significantly affect patients' quality of life. Unfortunately, there are no established guidelines for treating sexual problems in epilepsy patients. More research is needed on treatments, and healthcare providers require additional education on SD-related issues to diagnose and effectively address these problems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 54-69"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145574901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does 7 T MRI offer an added value in drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy?","authors":"Ariadne Zampeli ,&nbsp;Miroslav Malac ,&nbsp;Isabella M. Björkman-Burtscher ,&nbsp;Boel Hansson ,&nbsp;Linda Wennberg ,&nbsp;Karin Markenroth Bloch ,&nbsp;Kristina Källén ,&nbsp;Maria Compagno Strandberg","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To evaluate the added value of 7 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the presurgical assessment of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), considering its overall impact on clinical decision-making, including both MRI-positive and MRI-negative cases, and its timing during the evaluation process.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sixty-one patients with drug-resistant TLE, enrolled in this study underwent both 3 T and 7 T MRI, along with other diagnostic assessments (video electroencephalography, positron emission tomography, stereo electroencephalography). Patients were categorized into three phases of the presurgical evaluation: basic, intermediate, and advanced. The added value of 7 T MRI was assessed based on its ability to confirm, exclude, or detect new epileptogenic lesions, as well as its influence on surgical decision-making.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>7 T MRI provided added clinical value in 51 % of cases, improving lesion detection and contributing to clinical decisions, particularly in patients with unclear or ambiguous findings. In some instances, it confirmed previously suspected lesions or revealed previously undetected lesions, leading to surgical interventions. It also helped exclude possible lesions, influencing decisions to avoid unnecessary surgery. Notably, hippocampal malrotation (HIMAL) was identified in several patients, warranting further investigation regarding its potential epileptogenic role.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>7 T MRI enhances the presurgical evaluation of TLE by improving lesion detection, clarifying ambiguous findings, and aiding clinical decision-making. Its use should be considered at various stages of the evaluation process, as it offers valuable diagnostic information for both MRI-positive and MRI-negative patients. Further research is needed to explore the possible epileptogenic significance of HIMAL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 27-36"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145574784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"History of lennox-gastaut syndrome: Sixty years of advancements in therapeutic practices","authors":"Philippe Gélisse ,&nbsp;Arielle Crespel ,&nbsp;Pierre Genton ,&nbsp;Charlotte Dravet","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) is a severe, lifelong form of epileptic encephalopathy that presents significant treatment challenges. The management of LGS remains primarily symptomatic. Historically, the effectiveness of traditional antiseizure medications (ASMs) has been limited, prompting practitioners to explore off-label treatments and anecdotal drugs, including medications not originally intended for epilepsy. Although some controlled clinical trials have been conducted, LGS management often remains empirical and largely dependent on clinical experience. Recent advances in ASMs and adjunctive therapies have enhanced patient outcomes, yet LGS remains one of the most treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy, with complete seizure control rarely being achieved. Beyond ASMs, interventions such as a ketogenic diet, vagus nerve stimulation, and callosotomy may be considered based on individual patient needs. Recent developments in deep brain stimulation have also presented promising new therapeutic options. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies for LGS, tracing progress from the syndrome's first description in 1966 to the current management approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 165-172"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145748755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutritional status and functional gastrointestinal disorders in pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: Impact of vagus nerve stimulation","authors":"Ayse Akcay ,&nbsp;Zeynep Ozturk ,&nbsp;Alev Elci Karaduman ,&nbsp;Esra Serdaroglu ,&nbsp;Ebru Arhan ,&nbsp;Ercan Demir ,&nbsp;Tugba Hirfanoglu","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To evaluate the nutritional status and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and determine whether vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) influences gastrointestinal outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional study included 98 pediatric patients with DRE (30 with VNS and 68 without). Anthropometric status was assessed using LMS-derived Z-scores, and FGIDs were diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria. Logistic regression and ROC analyses were used to investigate the relationship between antiseizure medication (ASM) burden and constipation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Each additional ASM increased the odds of constipation by 1.63 (95 % CI: 1.08–2.47; <em>p</em> = 0.021). A cutoff of ≥3 ASMs demonstrated a moderate predictive value for constipation (AUC 0.63). Earlier epilepsy onset was significantly associated with lower weight, height, and BMI Z-scores (all <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Despite the higher ASM burden, children treated with VNS did not exhibit an increased frequency of gastrointestinal adverse effects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ASM polytherapy is a measurable risk factor for constipation in pediatric DRE, and early epilepsy onset is associated with impaired growth. The absence of increased gastrointestinal symptoms among VNS recipients, despite a higher medication load, suggests a potential modulatory role of vagal neuromodulation. These findings highlight the need for routine nutritional surveillance and structured gastrointestinal assessments and support future longitudinal studies incorporating objective GI measures and biomarker-based evaluations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 198-203"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145796921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical and genetic analysis of epilepsy in children with SCN8A gene variants","authors":"Rui Li ,&nbsp;Chu Wang ,&nbsp;Runlu Geng ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Xu ,&nbsp;Yichen Tao ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To analyse the clinical and genetic characteristics of children with epilepsy associated with SCN8A gene variants.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>High-throughput whole-exome sequencing was performed on children suspected of having gene variant-related epilepsy. A total of 14 children with seizures caused by SCN8A gene variants were identified. A retrospective analysis was conducted to collect and summarise the medical records and genetic results of these children.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eleven cases were identified with de novo variants and three with inherited heterozygous variants. The earliest age of onset was 10 min after birth, and the maximum age of onset was 2 years. Three patients were treated with a single drug, four were treated with two anti-seizure medicines (ASMs), seven were treated with three or more ASMs and two were treated with a ketogenic diet, but the efficacy was not satisfactory. Eight patients responded to sodium channel blockers, with doses ranging from higher than the standard paediatric dosage. Except for one case with a normal electroencephalogram, all others showed abnormalities, mainly characterised by multifocal and widespread discharges.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Typically, SCN8A gene variants cause early-onset childhood epilepsy, often within the first year of life, even in the neonatal period, and most cases are caused by de novo variants. Sodium channel blockers show some efficacy, but often require higher doses, and single-drug therapy is usually insufficient. The clinical phenotype of de novo variants is severe, with frequent seizures. Most patients still experience seizures despite treatment with 3–4 drugs, and focal or focal secondary generalised seizures are common. Seizure types such as spasms and myoclonus are rare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 147-151"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145745627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epilepsy and marriage - the story of the abolition of laws that discriminated people with epilepsy in Norway","authors":"Mia Tuft ,&nbsp;Karl O. Nakken","doi":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.10.026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.seizure.2025.10.026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Norwegian legislators have for centuries discriminated people with epilepsy. This article specifically addresses the Norwegian marriage laws, and we discuss possible explanations for the discrimination.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>At the library in the faculty of law at the University of Oslo, we have performed a historical search in Norwegian marriage laws and their preparatory works.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The last law change that regulated epilepsy and marriage was passed in 1969. Before this, those with epilepsy had to disclose the disease before marriage, and if such information was withheld, the marriage could be annulled.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>The laws that restricted people with epilepsy from marrying were based on long standing official discrimination due to an overestimation of heredity and/or simply lack of knowledge. We suspect that the discriminatory laws had roots in old theories about eugenics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49552,"journal":{"name":"Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy","volume":"134 ","pages":"Pages 8-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}