Definition:
Temporal lobe epilepsy is a form of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition marked by recurrent seizures.
Treatment:
There are several oral medications available for the management of epileptic seizures, typically termed anticonvulsants or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs, for short). For temporal lobe epilepsy specifically, the most frequently used AEDs are (historically) phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate and phenobarbital. Newer drugs like gabapentin, topiramate, Levetiracetam and lamotrigine, promise similar efficacy with fewer side-effects.
Symptoms and Signs:
The symptoms experienced by the patient with TLE and the signs observable by others during seizures depend upon the specific areas of the temporal lobes and neighboring brain areas affected by the seizure.
Causes:
Usually, a cause cannot be determined with certainty. LTLE is even less common. It can be hereditary, as in Autosomal Dominant Lateral Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (ADLTLE) with auditory or visual features, but can also be linked with tumors, meningitis, encephalitis, trauma, vascular malformations or congenital brain malformations. Again, in many affected persons it is common that no cause can be determined.
