Preface

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and epileptic seizures (ESs) are a very common health problem of human beings since their origin. ESs were considered as a sacred disease for thousands of years, while for the past hundred years, a real knowledge of its etiopatho‐ genetic mechanism is better known.

This book contains a group of selected peer-reviewed chapters that were revised by mem‐ bers of the IJN Editorial Board and the chief editor of this project at least twice. An impor‐ tant number of recommendations and modifications were implemented on the chapters before they were accepted for publication.

An overview of genetic testing modalities and workflows taking into account the genetic architecture of epilepsies is given, and the practical aspects of genetic testing in epilepsies, including advantages/limitations and clinical utility of tests, are discussed.

This book aims to present in synthesized form the role of genetic, immunological, and envi‐ ronmental factors in autoimmune epilepsy and the treatment of PNES and ES as well. A review of the work achieved during the last years in patients with this condition provides information and experience on the diagnosis and treatment of these epilepsy types. This book reports results from a systematic search of PUBMED, looking for articles published about autoimmune epilepsy, autoantibodies and epilepsy, NMDA and epilepsy, AMPA and epilepsy, and GAD and epilepsy.

Some authors estimated the prevalence of ischemic stroke in patients presenting subarach‐ noid neurocysticercosis and epileptic seizures, while others deliver their results from con‐ ducted interviews, literature reviews, expert panels, and online surveys to assess the availability and quality of patient-reported data during epilepsy diagnosis and treatment, respectively. Their results highlight important data collection and design opportunities to support the diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of epilepsy.

Finally, we discuss about the treatment for pseudoseizures in a professional manner and the results of the study done on PNES in patients living in rural South Africa. Because NCC is the leading cause of epileptic seizures in developing countries where PNES is also a fre‐ quent problem, to distinguish real seizures from PNES is a challenge. Therefore, this book shows the updated information published in the medical literature and compares it with the authors' results and highlights how to differentiate epileptic seizures from PNES.

The seven chapters in this book, authored by some of the world's top neurologists and re‐ searchers in the field of central nervous system, provide a valuable update on the topic of seizures, providing a timely review of the achievements in PNES and ES, covering historic aspects, genetics, pathogenesis, clinical aspects, and imagenology, among others. Contribu‐ tors from different countries have collaborated enthusiastically and efficiently to create this reader-friendly but comprehensive work covering the topics with many explanatory figures to enhance legibility and make the book useful. Countless hours have gone into writing these chapters; precious free time to be dedicated to our family, relatives, and friends has been sacrificed, but in the end, we all are very proud of this book.

Every effort has been made to check all novel information given in this book, but it is impor‐ tant for our readership to scrutinize last information arriving considering it is a dynamic proc‐ ess of learning. We all attempted to bring in valuable updated information for all issues mentioned in this book. Every effort has been made in the preparation and editing of this book to ensure that the information given is correct, but it is possible that errors have been over‐ looked. Finally, we like to highlight that we reviewed all controversial matters, and our medi‐ cal criteria and scientist's opinions have been expressed with modesty, honesty, and respect. Nevertheless, the reader is advised to refer to other published information to check accuracy.

I would like to thank IntechOpen Publisher that unconditionally supported me in editing this book. My family has graciously tolerated the precious time spent on this project. Fortunately, Mom, Dad, my brother Francisco, and my first daughter Zayra Susana from heaven continue to inspire me. My sisters Mayra Alejandra, Lilia Teresa, and Lorna Irene supported me all the time. My second daughter Lorna Maria (33 years old) and Fatima Susana Adolfina (8 years old) encouraged me all the time to continue moving forward with persistence. My son Thabo Humberto Jorge (10 years old) pushed me to play games with him that helped me to relax and to find new ideas. My whole family contributed to this project in one way or another and they deserve my deep gratitude. My wife Lourdes de Fatima was the strongest support for this project, and without her collaboration, this project would have never happened. I also want to thank the families, relatives, and friends of all collaborators for their patience and tolerance for the lost evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Special thanks go to Walter Sisulu University (WSU). The new university was named in honor of an icon of the South Africa liberation struggle and close comrade of Nelson Mandela, the late Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu. Many thanks go to Dr. EN Cishe, acting director of Research Development of WSU; Professor AJ Mbokazi, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences (WSU); Prof. Thozama Dubula, head of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutic; Dr. M Mdledle, acting governor gener‐ al director of Clinical Governance of Nelson Mandela Central Hospital; and Mrs. NP Makwe‐ dini, chief executive officer of Nelson Mandela Central Hospital for the best understanding and support. I extend my deepest sense of appreciation for the support received from Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, minister of Public Health of Cuba, and Dr. Jorge Delgado Bustillo, deputy director of the National Unit for International Cooperation in Health.

#### **Prof. H. Foyaca Sibat MD, PhD, MSc**

**Chapter 1**

**Provisional chapter**

**Introductory Chapter: Seizures and Its Historical**

**Introductory Chapter: Seizures and Its Historical** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.75092

Seizures are a very common problem that accompany the humanity since its origin, and epileptic seizure (ES) was considered as a sacred disease for thousands of years, while for the past hundred year, a real knowledge of its etiopathogenetic mechanism is better known.

In one of the chapters of this book, an overview of genetic testing modalities and workflows taking into account genetic architecture of epilepsies is given, and practical aspects of genetic testing in epilepsies, including advantages/limitations and clinical utility of tests, are

Other chapters of this book aim to present in synthesized form the genetic, immunological, and environmental factors' role in the autoimmunity to epilepsy, as well as the therapeutic approach that has been used to control seizures, mainly where there is a suspected anti-neuronal-antibody circulation. A review of the work achieved during the last years in patients with this condition provides information and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of this epilepsy type. In this chapter, the authors conducted a systematic search of PUBMED, for articles published between 1990 and December 2016 using the search terms "autoimmune and epilepsy," "autoantibodies and epilepsy," NMDA and epilepsy, AMPA and epilepsy, and GAD and epilepsy. The list of identified articles was complemented by additional searches for relevant articles in the reference section of the publications captured by the initial search. In another chapter, the authors estimated the prevalence of ischemic stroke (IS) in epileptic patients presenting subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (SNCC) and IS frequency among HIVpositive patients in three NCC subgroups. Finally, to determine if the odds of ischemic stroke are elevated in SNCC patients compared to patients with intraparenchymal NCC (INCC).

> © 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

**Background**

**1. Introduction**

discussed.

**Background**

Humberto Foyaca-Sibat and

Humberto Foyaca-Sibat and Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez-Valdés

Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez-Valdés

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75092

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

First- and Second-Degree Specialist in Neurology Full Scientist Research Head of Department of Neurology Nelson Mandela Central Hospital Faculty of Health Sciences, WSU Mthatha, South Africa

#### **Introductory Chapter: Seizures and Its Historical Background Introductory Chapter: Seizures and Its Historical Background**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.75092

Humberto Foyaca-Sibat and Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez-Valdés Humberto Foyaca-Sibat and Lourdes de Fátima Ibañez-Valdés

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75092
