Mercè Falip

Dr. Mercè Falip


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

26Years (2001-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 February 2012 in European Journal of Neurology
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Journal Article
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MFMercè Falip
Mercè Falip
MCMar carreño
Mar carreño
JMJ. Miró
J. Miró
ASAlbert Saiz
Albert Saiz
VVV. Villanueva
V. Villanueva
Francesc GrausFrancesc Graus
Francesc Graus

1 January 2017 in Epilepsy Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MCMar carreño
Mar carreño
CBChristian G. Bien
Christian G. Bien
AAAli Asadi-Pooya
Ali Asadi-Pooya
MSMichael R. Sperling
Michael R. Sperling
PMPetr Marusic
Petr Marusic
Francesc GrausFrancesc Graus
Francesc Graus
We assessed the outcome of patients with drug resistant epilepsy and neuronal antibodies who underwent epilepsy surgery. Retrospective study, information collected with a questionnaire sent to epilepsy surgery centers. Thirteen patients identified, with antibodies to GAD (8), Ma2 (2), Hu (1), LGI1 (1) or CASPR2 (1). Mean age at seizure onset: 23 years. Five patients had an encephalitic phase. Three had testicular tumors and five had autoimmune diseases. All had drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (median: 20 seizures/month). MRI showed unilateral temporal lobe abnormalities (mainly hippocampal sclerosis) in 9 patients, bilateral abnormalities in 3, and was normal in 1. Surgical procedures included anteromesial temporal lobectomy (10 patients), selective amygdalohippocampectomy (1), temporal pole resection (1) and radiofrequency ablation of mesial structures (1). Perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates were seen in 7/12 patients. One year outcome available in all patients, at 3 years in 9. At last visit 5/13 patients (38.5%) (with Ma2, Hu, LGI1, and 2 GAD antibodies) were in Engel's classes I or II. Epilepsy surgery may be an option for patients with drug resistant seizures associated with neuronal antibodies. Outcome seems to be worse than that expected in other etiologies, even in the presence of unilateral HS. Intracranial EEG may be required in some patients.

1 August 2015 in Epilepsy & Behavior
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Journal Article
Closed access
MVM. Veciana
M. Veciana
JBJ.L. Becerra
J.L. Becerra
PFP. Fossas
P. Fossas
DMD. Muriana
D. Muriana
GSG. Sansa
G. Sansa
MFMercè Falip
Mercè Falip

19 December 2024 in Epilepsia Open
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Journal Article
Open access
SAStéphane Auvin
Stéphane Auvin
AAAlexis Arzimanoglou
Alexis Arzimanoglou
MFMercè Falip
Mercè Falip
Pasquale StrianoPasquale Striano
Pasquale Striano
JCJ. Helen Cross
J. Helen Cross
Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) characterized by multiple types of drug‐resistant seizures (which must include tonic seizures) with classical onset before 8 years (although some cases with later onset have also been described), abnormal electroencephalographic features, and cognitive and behavioral impairments. Management and treatment of LGS are challenging, due to associated comorbidities and the treatment resistance of seizures. A panel of five epileptologists reconvened to provide updated guidance and treatment algorithms for LGS, incorporating recent advancements in antiseizure medications (ASMs) and understanding of DEEs. The resulting consensus document is based on current evidence from clinical trials and clinical practice and the panel's expert opinion, focusing on new ASMs with novel mechanisms of action, such as highly purified cannabidiol and fenfluramine. For a patient presenting with newly diagnosed LGS or suspected LGS, the recommended first‐line treatment continues to be valproate. If this is ineffective as monotherapy, adjunctive therapy with, firstly, lamotrigine and secondly, rufinamide, is recommended. If seizure control remains suboptimal, subsequent adjunctive ASM treatment options include (alphabetically) cannabidiol, clobazam, felbamate, fenfluramine, and topiramate, although evidence for these is more limited. Whenever possible, no more than two ASMs should be used together. Nonpharmacological treatment approaches should be used in conjunction with ASM therapy and include ketogenic diet therapies, vagus nerve stimulation, and corpus callosotomy. Patients with LGS that has evolved from another type of epilepsy who are not already being treated with valproate should be transitioned to valproate and then managed using the same algorithm as for newly diagnosed LGS. Older patients with established LGS should be reviewed at least annually by a suitably experienced neurologist. The revised guidance aims to improve seizure control and quality of life for patients with LGS through personalized, evidence‐based treatment strategies while addressing the challenges of accurate diagnosis and management in a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape.Plain Language Summary: Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe type of epilepsy that usually starts in childhood but continues into adulthood. It is characterized by a variety of different types of seizures (abnormal electrical activity in the brain), which are difficult to treat and often cause people with the condition to fall and injure themselves. Most people with LGS have learning difficulties and need a lot of support, often in residential care. The authors are experts in treating people with LGS and this article provides up‐to‐date guidance and advice on how best to care for those with the condition.

2 August 2017 in Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MFMercè Falip
Mercè Falip
LRL. Rodriguez‐Bel
L. Rodriguez‐Bel
SCS. Castañer
S. Castañer
JMJ. Miro
J. Miro
SJS. Jaraba
S. Jaraba
MCMar carreño
Mar carreño

9 January 2019 in Frontiers in Neurology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MFMercè Falip
Mercè Falip
LRLaura Rodriguez-Bel
Laura Rodriguez-Bel
SCSara Castañer
Sara Castañer
JSJacint Sala-Padró
Jacint Sala-Padró
JMJúlia Miro
Júlia Miro
MCMar Carreño
Mar Carreño
Background: Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD ab) have been found in patients with limbic encephalitis (LE) and chronic pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy (FE). The objectives of the study were to: (1) analyze the clinical and neuroimaging course of patients with FE+GAD ab, (2) compare these characteristics with a control group, and (3) describe the most affected cerebral areas with structural and functional imaging. Methods: Patients with FE + high titers of GAD ab and a follow-up of at least 5 years were selected. Titers of serum GAD ab exceeding 2,000 UI/ml were considered high. Evolutive clinical and radiological characteristics were studied in comparison to two different control groups: patients with bilateral or with unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (BMTS or UMTS) of a non-autoimmune origin. Results: A group of 13 patients and 17 controls were included (8 BMTS, 9 UMTS). The most frequent focal aware seizures (FAS) reported by patients were psychic (5/13: 33%). Somatosensorial, motor, and visual FAS (4/13:32%) (p: 0.045), musicogenic reflex seizures (MRS), and a previous history of cardiac syncope were reported only patients (2/13:16% each) (p: NS). Comparing EEG characteristics between patients and controls, a more widespread distribution of interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) was observed in FE+ GAD ab patients than in controls (p:0.01). Rhythmic delta activity was observed in all controls in anterior temporal lobes while in patients this was less frequent (p: 0.001). No IED, even in 24 h cVEEG, was seen in 6 patients (46%).First MRI was normal in 4/5 (75%) patients. During the follow-up mesial temporal lobe (MTsL) sclerosis was observed in 5/8 (62%) of patients. All patients had abnormal FDG-PET study. MTL hypometabolism was observed in 10/11 (91%) patients, being bilateral in 7/11 (63%). In controls, this was observed in 16/17 (94%), and it was bilateral in 8/17 (47%) (p: NS). Insular hypometabolism was observed in 5/11 (45%) patients (P:0.002). Conclusions: Clinical, EEG, and FDG-PET findings in FE+GAD ab suggest a widespread disease not restricted to the temporal lobe. Progressive MTL sclerosis may be observed during follow-up. In comparison to what is found in patients with non-autoimmune MTL epilepsy, insular hypometabolism is observed only in patients with GAD ab, so it may be an important diagnostic clue.