Related Experiment Videos
Seizures after stroke: a prospective multicenter study.
C F Bladin1, A V Alexandrov, A Bellavance
1Department of Neuroscience, Box Hill Hospital, Nelson Road, Box Hill 3128, Melbourne, Australia.
Archives of Neurology
|November 14, 2000
Summary
Seizures are more common after hemorrhagic stroke than ischemic stroke. Cortical location and stroke disability are key risk factors, with only a few patients developing epilepsy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Stroke Medicine
- Epileptology
Background:
- Existing research on post-stroke seizures is limited by retrospective designs and small sample sizes.
- Much of the current understanding of seizures after stroke lacks robust evidence.
- This study addresses the need for prospective, evidence-based data on post-stroke seizures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of seizures following acute stroke.
- To identify the outcomes associated with seizures after stroke.
- To elucidate the specific risk factors contributing to seizures post-stroke.
Main Methods:
- An international, multicenter, prospective, analytic inception cohort study.
- Inclusion of 1897 consecutive patients with acute stroke, with a mean follow-up of 9 months.
- Primary outcome measures included the occurrence of seizures, stroke disability, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Seizures occurred in 8.9% of patients (10.6% hemorrhagic, 8.6% ischemic stroke).
- Hemorrhagic stroke significantly increased seizure risk (HR 1.85).
- Cortical location and stroke disability were risk factors for ischemic stroke seizures; cortical location for hemorrhagic stroke seizures. Epilepsy developed in 2.5% of patients, with late-onset seizures predicting epilepsy after ischemic stroke.
Conclusions:
- Seizures are more frequent in hemorrhagic stroke compared to ischemic stroke.
- A small proportion of stroke survivors develop epilepsy.
- Disabling cortical infarcts/hemorrhages increase seizure likelihood; late-onset seizures elevate epilepsy risk.