Sandra L Forem, M.D.

Asthma and epilepsy: are they related? A retrospective study
Castaneda GY; Heilbroner PL; Shah N; Forem S; Fish I
1998 Jun;13(6):283-285, Journal of child neurology
Numerous studies have suggested that epilepsy and asthma may be related conditions. There has, however, been little epidemiologic data published to support this association. We conducted a retrospective study to determine whether the prevalence of epilepsy is increased among children with asthma, and the prevalence of asthma is increased among children with epilepsy, in comparison with the general pediatric population. We reviewed the medical records, at a large city hospital, of two groups of pediatric outpatients: (1) 400 consecutive patients with asthma followed regularly at the asthma and allergy clinic; and (2) 201 consecutive patients with idiopathic epilepsy followed regularly at the pediatric neurology clinic. Patients with a history of birth prior to 36 weeks' gestational age were excluded. Among the 400 cases of asthma, there were three patients with idiopathic epilepsy (prevalence of 0.75%). The prevalence of epilepsy was similar in mild (0.79%) and moderate-to-severe (0.73%) asthma. Among the 201 cases of idiopathic epilepsy, there were 12 patients with asthma (prevalence of 5.97%). Similar percentages of epilepsy patients with and without asthma reported generalized tonic-clonic, complex partial, simple partial, and myoclonic seizures as their predominant type. The prevalence values in this study are consistent with the prevalence of epilepsy and asthma in the general pediatric population. Our findings therefore suggest that idiopathic epilepsy and asthma are not etiologically related or mutually predisposing conditions. Small samples, failure to exclude patients born prematurely, and the equation of electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities with epilepsy may account for the results of previous studies
— id: 7526, year: 1998, vol: 13, page: 283, stat: Journal Article,

Congenital pontocerebellar atrophy in three patients: clinical, radiologic and etiologic considerations
Zelnik N; Dobyns WB; Forem SL; Kolodny EH
1996 Oct;38(7):684-687, Neuroradiology
We report three patients with severe pontocerebellar atrophy (PCA) associated with a variable degree of cerebral atrophy. The clinical features consisted of progressive microcephaly, central hypotonia, visual impairment, abnormal eye movements and delayed psychomotor development. These are similar but not identical to the features of pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2 described by Barth. The picture also differs from the classical form of autosomal dominant olivopontocerebellar atrophy. While in two patients the disease seemed to be genetic with highly suspicious autosomal recessive inheritance, the etiology in the third patient was probably nongenetic. We suggest that PCA is a morphologic entity with distinct radiologic features but variable clinical, pathophysiologic and etiologic backgrounds
— id: 12525, year: 1996, vol: 38, page: 684, stat: Journal Article,

Use of a calcium channel blocker (nicardipine HCl) in the treatment of childhood moyamoya disease
Hosain SA; Hughes JT; Forem SL; Wisoff J; Fish I
1994 Oct;9(4):378-380, Journal of child neurology
Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disease characterized radiologically by progressive narrowing and occlusion of the arteries contributing to the circle of Willis and its branches. There is formation of an exuberant collateral network of blood vessels at the base of the brain, which is thought to arise in response to chronic ischemia. Clinically, the course is variable, with patients having repeated transient ischemic attacks, strokes, migraine, and seizures. Effective treatment is not available. The etiology and pathophysiology of moyamoya disease are largely unknown. Two patients with arteriographically proven moyamoya disease were identified. Both patients were symptomatic before age 5 years. Despite successful encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis revascularization procedures, they continued to experience an inexorable downhill course. A calcium channel blocker (nicardipine HCl) was introduced in order to prevent further symptoms. After the introduction of nicardipine, no further strokes occurred in either patient. There were no further episodes of transient ischemic attacks, seizures, or headache in one patient and decreased frequency in the other. In patients with moyamoya disease, nicardipine may have a beneficial effect on cerebral hemodynamics and may prevent ischemic sequelae by optimizing existing collateral circulation
— id: 56655, year: 1994, vol: 9, page: 378, stat: Journal Article,

Selective dorsal rhizotomy: outcome and complications in treating spastic cerebral palsy
Abbott R; Johann-Murphy M; Shiminski-Maher T; Quartermain D; Forem SL; Gold JT; Epstein FJ
1993 Nov;33(5):851-857, Neurosurgery
Selective dorsal rhizotomy has shown great promise as a treatment for the functional disabilities and deforming hypertonia of spastic cerebral palsy. At New York University Medical Center, 200 children underwent this procedure between 1986 and 1990. All groups, whether walkers, crawlers, or nonlocomotors, showed improvement in the tone and range of most muscles tested. Half of these patients experienced complications. Thirty-five of these were serious and included bronchospasm (5.5%), aspiration pneumonia (3.5%), urinary retention (7%), and sensory loss (2%). There are, however, clear indications that warn of these complications; monitoring and prophylactic treatment can minimize their effects, and the possibility of such problems is more than offset by the proven benefits of this operative procedure
— id: 56491, year: 1993, vol: 33, page: 851, stat: Journal Article,

Selective posterior rhizotomy for the treatment of spasticity: a review [see comments]
Abbott R; Forem SL; Johann M
1989 Dec;5(6):337-346, Child's nervous system : ChNS
The use of sensory rhizotomy has long been used for the treatment of spasticity. This review outlines the historical development of this treatment, the current surgical technique, and its physiologic rationale. Patient selection, postoperative treatment, and complications are also discussed
— id: 10401, year: 1989, vol: 5, page: 337, stat: Journal Article,