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EEC 2022 | The relevance of diagnosing catamenial seizures for treatment and management

Bruna Nucera, MD, Hospital of Merano, Merano-Meran, Italy, explains that diagnosing catamenial seizures correctly is important for the treatment and management of women with epilepsy. In fact, catamenial epilepsy can occur in three patterns: C1, C2, and C3, which are named perimenstrual, periovulatory and inadequate luteal path, respectively. To identify the pattern affecting an individual patient, women with epilepsy must be monitored for at least three months, whereby they describe their seizure exacerbation in diaries. After diagnosis, there are two different treatment options, being non-hormonal treatment (e.g. clobazam or acetazolamide) and hormonal therapy. However, major trails assessing the use of progesterone supplements for the treatment of catamenial epilepsy failed to demonstrate significant efficacy. Nevertheless, post-hoc analyses in women with catamenial type 1 pattern demonstrated responder rates of 50%. This interview took place at the 14th European Epilepsy Congress (EEC) 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.