BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Seizures are important neurologic complications of spontaneous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A better understanding of the risk factors of seizures following aneurysmal SAH is needed to predict those who will require treatment. METHODS: A total of 137 adult patients were enrolled in this two-year retrospective study. Baseline prognostic variables were analyzed based on Cox's proportional hazards model after a minimum of one-year follow-up. RESULTS: Seizures occurred in 21 patients who had SAH, including acute symptomatic seizures in 11.7% (16/137) and unprovoked seizures in 3.6% (5/137). None progressed to status epilepticus during hospitalization. After a minimum of one-year follow-up, the mean Glasgow Outcome Score was 3.5 +/- 1.4 for patients with seizures and 3.1 +/- 1.1 for those without. CONCLUSIONS: Higher mean World Federation of Neurological Societies grade on presentation was predictive of seizure, but seizure itself was not a significant prognostic predictor after a minimum of one-year follow-up. Regarding potential side effects of anti-epileptic drugs, anti-epileptic therapy should be carefully administered to patients with seizures after aneurysmal SAH.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Seizures are important neurologic complications of spontaneous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A better understanding of the risk factors of seizures following aneurysmalSAH is needed to predict those who will require treatment. METHODS: A total of 137 adult patients were enrolled in this two-year retrospective study. Baseline prognostic variables were analyzed based on Cox's proportional hazards model after a minimum of one-year follow-up. RESULTS:Seizures occurred in 21 patients who had SAH, including acute symptomatic seizures in 11.7% (16/137) and unprovoked seizures in 3.6% (5/137). None progressed to status epilepticus during hospitalization. After a minimum of one-year follow-up, the mean Glasgow Outcome Score was 3.5 +/- 1.4 for patients with seizures and 3.1 +/- 1.1 for those without. CONCLUSIONS: Higher mean World Federation of Neurological Societies grade on presentation was predictive of seizure, but seizure itself was not a significant prognostic predictor after a minimum of one-year follow-up. Regarding potential side effects of anti-epileptic drugs, anti-epileptic therapy should be carefully administered to patients with seizures after aneurysmalSAH.
Authors: David Panczykowski; Matthew Pease; Yin Zhao; Gregory Weiner; William Ares; Elizabeth Crago; Brian Jankowitz; Andrew F Ducruet Journal: Stroke Date: 2016-06-14 Impact factor: 7.914