[Epidemiology of various types of vascular epilepsy in adults]

From studies of the incidence of epilepsy, figures of between 40 and 70 per 100,000 inhabitants are obtained whilst in studies of prevalence, 5 to 7 cases per 1,000 are found. Cerebrovascular disease is the commonest cause of epileptic crises in the developed world, being more frequent in patients aged over 60, who make up 50% of all cases. Depending on the moment of presentation of crises in relation to the cerebrovascular disease, these may be classified as herald crises or precursors of vascular epilepsy, early crises if they occur during the first week and late crises if they occur after. Whilst early crises are usually due to metabolic or cytotoxic factors, the late crises occur in true vascular epilepsy. When these patients are assessed it is also important to consider increased hospital mortality in those with early crises and possible deterioration of neurological deficit as sequelae following late epileptic crises.