Status epilepticus secondary to glioma

Epilepsy is common in glioma patients, but clinical data on the course of status epilepticus (SE) in this group are sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of SE to tumor grading, seizure semiology, trigger factors, treatment response, recurrence and outcome of SE in patients with glioma.

Adult patients with SE and glioma WHO grade II-IV were identified from a prospective clinical study at two neurological departments. We identified 31 SE in 20 patients during a period of 7 years.

SE was more frequent in patients with high-grade glioma. Half of the seizures were secondary generalized. Patients with a clinical and radiological stable glioma had SE as often as patients with untreated tumor or tumor in progression. The majority of patients had a well-controlled epilepsy prior to SE. SE responded well to first and second line treatment. Patients with SE and tumor progression were not more refractory to treatment than patients without progression.

SE secondary to glioma responded well to treatment and should be treated aggressively regardless of the oncological prognosis. Seizures during tumor progression were not more treatment refractory than SE in patients with stable glioma disease.