Cerebral ischemia and epilepsy

• Published in: Revista de neurologiá Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 297 - 304
• Main Authors: Bertol, V, Alarcia, R, López-Fraile, I P, Oliveros, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.02.1999
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain Ischemia - complications; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy - diagnosis; Epilepsy - etiology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis
• ISSN: 0210-0010; 1576-6578

We review the characteristics and evolution of epileptic crises (EC) related to non-hemorrhagic ictus. Patients and methods. Since June 1994 we have studied patients with EC both at the time of the ictus (acute symptomatic crises, ASC) and later (remote symptomatic crises RSC). One hundred and fifteen fulfilled the criteria and were followed-up until recurrence of EC, death or the end of the study (30.06.98). There were 66 men and 49 women (average age at the time of ictus = 67.4 +/- 12 years). Ninety one patients had RSC; reversible ischemic neurological deficit (DNIR) (50%), atherothrombotic pathology (58.5%) and anterior territory (70%) predominated. There was a similar proportion of partial and generalized crises (51.5% compared with 48.5%). Fifteen patients had presented with ASC. Thirty-nine patients presented with ASC, with predominance of established ictus (48.5%), atherothrombotic pathology (56.5%), anterior territory (82%) and generalized crises (59%). There was recurrence in 50.5% of those with RSC (follow-up 18.5 +/- 24 months). there was a predominance of ASC in patients with established ictus and RSC in the case of DNIR. In cases of abnormal EEG there was a greater proportion of patients with a history of ASC. In patients over 60 years old, CSR was commoner. In those with atherothrombosis there was a predominance of one crisis and in patients with embolisms two or more crises. There were more recurrences in patients with no previous history of ASC (p = 0.001), those with all the anterior territory affected (p = 0.002), those < 59 years old (p = 0.01), those previously untreated (p = 0.04) and those with abnormal EEG (p = 0.03). There was an increased RR in the abnormal EEG, involvement of the entire anterior territory and age < 59 years. Multivariate analysis showed that the probability of recurrence increased 1.23 times when there was a previous history of ASC; 14.73 times if the EEG was abnormal, and 18.12 times when both these factors were present.