In a nutshell
This paper studied the occurrence and risk factors of epilepsy after a subarachnoid hemorrhage from a saccular intracranial aneurysm.
Some background
A saccular intracranial aneurysm refers to a weakening in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain. Because the wall is weakened, it is more prone to rupture and hemorrhage (bleeding). Epilepsy is a condition where seizures (changes in movement and behavior) occur. While the cause of epilepsy is unknown, some people develop epilepsy as a result of brain injury. Risk factors for epilepsy include a younger age, high blood pressure and bleeding into the brain . The risk factors of epilepsy and death have not yet been studied.
Methods & findings
876 patients who had a subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding into surrounding area of the brain) from a saccular intracranial aneurysm were studied. They were followed-up for an average of 76 months.
At 1 year, 11% of patients had died and at 5 years, 34% of patients had died. Males were 2.1 times more at risk of death.
113 patients developed epilepsy following the hemorrhage. Epilepsy was diagnosed after an average of 8 months. 1 year after admission, 8% of patients had epilepsy while at 5 years, 12% of patients had epilepsy.
Acute (sudden and short) seizures occurred in 15% of patients within 1 week of the subarachnoid hemorrhage. Patients with a more severe subarachnoid hemorrhage were at greater risk of epilepsy. Patients with large intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding into the brain) had 1.9 times the risk of epilepsy. Patients who had an acute seizure had 2.3 times the risk of epilepsy. The risk of epilepsy was significant even in patients who are in good condition on admission to hospital.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that a severe subarachnoid hemorrhage increased the risk of epilepsy and mortality.
Published By :
Neurology
Date :
May 06, 2015
