Abstract TP319: Risk Factors of Post-stroke Epilepsy

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to identify the risk factors for seizures in patients with ischemic stroke using clinical, functional, neuroimaging research methods. Materials and methods: The results of the complex survey of 468 patients suffering from ischemic stroke (256 patients experienced epileptic seizures and 203 experienced no epileptic seizures) are presented. The diagnostic procedures included clinical evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, extracranial and transcranial Doppler sonography. In addition the assessment of the rate of sodium lithium countertransport (the marker of genetically determined on transport mechanisms of cell membranes) in patients with c ischemic stroke with the development of epileptic seizures and no seizures was carried out. Results: The focal seizures are the most common (92,5%). Cortical ischemic brain lesions prevailed in patients with seizures (81,1%), whereas in the control group cortex was affected in 38,9% patients (χ2=89.2, <0,001). Stenosis of cerebral arteries was more common in patients with epilepsy (82.3%) compared to patients without seizures (74.4%, <0.05). Reduced cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in vertebro-basilar basin was more frequently detected in patients with seizures (85.9%, p<0.001) compared to controls (71.6%). CVR < 10% was registered in 33.8% patients with seizures versus 13.4% controls (p<0.001). Patients with epileptic seizures showed cerebral perfusion reduction mostly in vertebro-basilar basin (85.9%) rather than in carotid basin (61.2%, p<0.001). Patients experienced epileptic seizures had high rates of sodium-lithium antitransport (> 346 μmol/liter cells x hour) more often than patients without epileptic seizures (52,6% and 35,5%, respectively, <0,05). Patients experienced epileptic seizures with high rates of sodium-lithium antitransport had a higher seizure frequency than patients with low rates of sodium-lithium antitransport. Conclusion: Thus, cortical ischemic brain lesions, significant stenosis of cerebral arteries, predominant perfusion reserve reduction in the posterior cerebral circulation, as well as a high rate of sodium lithium countertransport may be considered as risk factors for post-stroke epilepsy.