Etiologic factors in adult convulsions; an analysis of 689 patients whose attacks began after twenty years of age.

Abstract

THE present paper is a report on the presumptive etiologic factor in 689 patients who experienced their first major motor (grand-mal) convulsion after twenty years of age. The convulsion was generalized in 534 patients, generalized with a focal beginning in 84 and completely focal in 71. None of these patients had had any type of seizure disorder previously. All 689 patients were examined initially by competent neurologists, neurosurgeons or internists to rule out brain tumors, metabolic disorders such as hypoglyccmia and hypocalcemia or any of the, acute cerebral diseases before they were referred to the Epilepsy Clinic for treatment and . . .