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Risk factors and outcome of seizures after spontaneous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Author(s) -
Lin Y.J.,
Chang W.N.,
Chang H.W.,
Ho J.T.,
Lee T.C.,
Wang H.C.,
Tsai N.W.,
Tsai M.H.,
Lu C.H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02096.x
Subject(s) - medicine , subarachnoid hemorrhage , status epilepticus , retrospective cohort study , epilepsy , anesthesia , pediatrics , surgery , psychiatry
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.