Risk factors of epilepsy secondary to viral encephalitis: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate the risk factors of post-encephalitis epilepsy (PEE).

METHODS

Systematic computerized searches of databases such as Cochrane Library, PubMed and EMBASE were performed. The meta-analysis of pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for PEE risk were calculated.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies with 2504 patients were included for meta-analysis. The results showed that PEE was associated with coma, seizure, status epilepticus, cranial MRI abnormality, focal EEG abnormality, and positive herpes simplex virus (HSV) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

CONCLUSION

Coma, seizures or status epilepticus, abnormal MRI and focal EEG, and HSV in CSF were the risk factors of PEE.