Cluster seizures and status epilepticus in new onset seizures among adult Egyptians

Abstract

BackgroundNew onset seizure (NOS) is defined as the first seizure within a 24-h period ever experienced by the patient. Cluster seizures (CS) or status epilepticus (SE) can be the first manifestation of epilepsy or it may be a symptom of a brain tumor, a systemic disorder, an infection, or a syndrome. This study aims to determine the etiology of CS and SE in NOS among adult Egyptians. One hundred twenty adult Egyptian patients presented with NOS were enrolled in a hospital-based cross-sectional observational study within a time period of 6 months from March till September 2018. All patients were subjected to neurological examination including mini mental status examination, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electroencephalogram.ResultsAmong 120 adult patients presented with NOS, males were prevalent (63%). Older adults (> 55 years) were prevalent (60%). Of the patients, 25% presented by CS, while 11% presented by SE. Post-stroke epilepsy (41%) was the predominant etiology of NOS. Cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) were the prevalent etiology of SE in NOS (35%). NOS presented by CS were more prevalent among patients with brain tumors (29%) in comparison to CVDs (25%).ConclusionCS represented 25% of NOS in adult Egyptian patients. SE is prevalent among 11% of NOS. Despite CVDs being the most prevalent etiology of NOS in adult population (41%) including those presented with SE (35%), brain tumors are the most prevalent etiology of new onset CS (29%).