Dr. Samba Reddy[/caption]
Dr. Samba Reddy, Ph.D., R.Ph., FAAPS, FAAAS, FAES
Professor
Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics
College of Medicine
Texas A&M University Health Science Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: For the past two decades, D. Samba Reddy, PhD, RPh, professor of neuroscience and experimental therapeutics at the Texas A&M College of Medicine, has been searching for answers to catamenial epilepsy, a subset of chronic epilepsy that causes a dramatic increase in seizures during women’s menstrual periods. Although this condition has been documented for millennia, there is currently no effective treatment for catamenial seizures, leaving many women and their families desperate for answers.
In this report, the researchers discovers the neuro-code for treating women with menstrual period-linked epilepsy. A unique platform has been created for clinical trials for catamenial seizures with synthetic neurosteroid agents.
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Anita L. Nelson, MD
Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles BioMedical Research Institute
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, California
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Nelson: The clinical impact heavy menstrual bleeding has often been expressed in terms of quality of life issues, but many women have heavy and prolonged bleeding that can lead to serious medical problems. The frequency with which women were treated at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center with profoundly low hemoglobin levels prompted us to do a comprehensive review of such women during a recent five year period to remind readers that even in the 21st century, this is not an uncommon problem. Overall 149 woman were treated 168 times for severe anemia (hemoglobin < 5.0 g/dL); 40% had previously been transfused (but not effectively treated). Over a quarter had reactive thrombocytosis which placed them at high risk for thrombosis (DVT, PE, and stroke). Over a third were discharged without therapy to prevent recurrence.