Description.

Therapeutic blood level

The amount of drug circulating in the bloodstream that brings about seizure control without troublesome adverse effects in most patients. “Subtherapeutic” (lower) levels are effective in some patients, and “supratherapeutic” or “toxic” (higher) levels are tolerated by others.

Tonic seizure

An epileptic seizure that causes stiffening; consciousness is usually preserved. The seizure involves muscles on both sides of the body, and electrical discharge involves all or most of the brain.

Tonic-clonic seizure

A convulsion; newer term for grand mal or major motor seizure; characterized by loss of consciousness, falling, stiffening, and jerking; electrical discharge involves all or most of the brain.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound of the brain uses sound waves to visualize the structures.  This is often used in infants under 6 months to see gross brain structures.  Older children and adults have fused skulls that block the sound waves.  No radiation in used in this test.  This is not often used with HH.

Video Electroencepahalogram (VEEG)

Video EEG is the same as an EEG but with a video.  The study is completed over a few days in the hospital to hopefully witness a seizure.  Patients or caregivers could be asked to push a button to indicate when a possible seizure event is happening, or they can be monitored real time by…