Seizures and epilepsy in patients with a spontaneous intracerebral haematoma.

BACKGROUND

Seizures occur more frequently in patients with an intracerebral haematoma (ICH) than in those with a cerebral infarct. However, the risk factors for seizures in association with an ICH are less well known.

PURPOSE: The characteristics of medically treated patients with spontaneous ICHs, who developed seizures, were retrospectively compared to those who did not.

PATIENTS: Fourteen patients were admitted to the Stroke Unit during 2004-2006 for seizures related to an ICH. Their characteristics were compared to those of 51 patients admitted during 2002-2004 for an ICH without subsequent seizures.

RESULTS

Early-onset seizures, occurring within 48 h of stroke onset, were observed in six patients with ICH related epileptic spells (42.9%). Late-onset ones occurred in eight patients, on average 8 months after the ICH. A focal onset of the seizures was documented in 75.7% of cases. Status epilepticus was observed in 21.4% of the patients. The seizures recurred in only 28.6% of the patients. Lobar haematomas were present in 78.6% of the seizure group, compared to 21.4% in the control group (P=0.008). In the former group a frontal lobe involvement was present in 57.1% compared to 9.8% in the latter group (P<0.001). On the post-ictal EEG, intermittent rhythmic delta activities were observed in 28.6% and periodic lateralized epileptic discharges in 21.4% of the seizure patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Seizures are more prone to occur in patients with frontal lobar haematomas. EEG can be helpful for the diagnosis of seizures in approximately 50% of the cases.