Newly diagnosed seizures in adults

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Neuroscience
• Epileptology

Background:

• Recurrent seizures in adults present a significant clinical challenge.
• Understanding the clinical, electroencephalographic (EEG), and computed tomography (CT) profiles is crucial for diagnosis and management.
• Limited data exists on the specific profiles of newly diagnosed recurrent seizures in hospital populations in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical, EEG, and CT characteristics of adult patients diagnosed with recurrent seizures.
• To identify the most prevalent seizure types and epileptic syndromes in this cohort.
• To compare findings with existing Western epidemiological studies.

Main Methods:

• Prospective data collection from adult patients (over 18 years) with newly diagnosed recurrent seizures referred to the electrodiagnostic service.
• Inclusion of detailed seizure history, physical examination, EEG, and CT scan findings.
• Data analysis using a standard database and personal computer.

Main Results:

• Seventy-three patients (mean age 32.3 years) were studied, with partial seizures (37%) and partial with secondary generalization (30.1%) being most common.
• Localization-related epilepsy (46.6%) was the predominant syndrome.
• EEG abnormalities were observed in 61.6% of patients, while cranial CT scans were abnormal in 39.7%, often revealing focal lesions.

Conclusions:

• Partial seizures and localization-related epilepsy are the most frequent seizure types and syndromes in this adult hospital population.
• The observed seizure and syndrome profiles are comparable to those reported in Western studies.
• These findings contribute to a better understanding of recurrent seizures in the Saudi Arabian context.