Open AccessWhite Matter Hyperintensities on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in People with Epilepsy: A Hospital‐Based Study
Author(s) -
Mao YiTing,
Goh Enid,
Churilov Leonid,
McIntosh Anne,
Ren YiFan,
O'Brien Terence J.,
Davis Stephen,
Dong Qiang,
Yan Bernard,
Kwan Patrick
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
cns neuroscience and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1755-5949
pISSN - 1755-5930
DOI - 10.1111/cns.12571
Subject(s) - epilepsy , hyperintensity , medicine , white matter , stroke (engine) , confidence interval , magnetic resonance imaging , pediatrics , psychiatry , cardiology , radiology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary Aims We aim to explore whether people with epilepsy have increased white matter hyperintensities ( WMH s). Methods Eligible patients were categorized into newly diagnosed epilepsy ( NE ) and chronic epilepsy ( CE ); the latter were subdivided to those treated with enzyme‐inducing antiepileptic drugs ( EIAED s) with or without non‐enzyme‐inducing antiepileptic drugs ( NEIAED s) and those with NEIAED s only. WMH s were measured using age‐related white matter changes ( ARWMC ) scale and compared between patients and healthy control group. Higher scores indicate greater WMH changes. The strengths of associations were estimated as incidence rate ratios ( IRR s) with 95% confidence interval ( CI ). Results A total of 217 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 67 had NE , 45 had CE treated with NEIAED s, and 105 had CE treated with EIAED s. Age was positively associated with ARWMC score ( IRR per year, 1.03; 95% CI , 1.03–1.04, P < 0.001). Compared with the healthy control group (n = 23), all patient groups had higher ARWMC score ( P < 0.05). The difference was greatest in patients receiving EIAED s ( IRR , 2.13; 95% CI , 1.22–3.70, P = 0.007). Conclusions WMH s tended to be observed in people with epilepsy, especially in those treated with EIAED s. People with epilepsy with white matter changes should be evaluated for stroke risk, particularly if they are receiving EIAED s.