Catamenial epilepsy

Estradiol levels during the menstrual cycle[1]

Catamenial epilepsy is a form of epilepsy in women where seizures are exacerbated during certain phases of the menstrual cycle. In rare cases, seizures occur only during certain parts of the cycle; in most cases, seizures occur more frequently (but not exclusively) during certain parts of the cycle. Catamenial epilepsy is underlain by hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle where estrogens promote seizures and progesterone counteracts seizure activity.[2]

Since at least ancient Greek times, there has been documented studies of women with epilepsy and its correlation to the menstrual cycle.[3] So catamenial epilepsy is a unique group of seizure disorders and these seizures are affected mainly by fluctuations in the menstrual cycle of estrogen and progesterone and to clarify the diagnosis of catamenial epilepsy charts of seizure activity are drawn during the menstrul cycle and thus three patterns of catamenial epilepsy are identified.[4]

  1. ^ Häggström, Mikael (2014). "Reference ranges for estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone during the menstrual cycle". WikiJournal of Medicine. 1 (1). doi:10.15347/wjm/2014.001. ISSN 2002-4436.
  2. ^ "Catamenial Epilepsy". Epilepsy Foundation. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  3. ^ Temkin, Owsei (March 1, 1994) [First published 1945, Revised 1971]. The Falling Sickness (2nd Revised ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-4849-0.
  4. ^ Frank S, Tyson NA (December 2020). "A Clinical Approach to Catamenial Epilepsy: A Review". Perm J. 24 (5): 1–3. doi:10.7812/TPP/19.145. PMC 7849269. PMID 33482944.