Diario de epilepsia

Impact of Clinical Epilepsy

Abstract

Emily Perca

To determine the frequency, predictors, and impact on outcome of epilepsy developing during the first year after subarachnoid haemorrhage. The authors prospectively analyzed 247 of 431 patients with SAH treated over a period of 5 years who were alive with follow-up at 12 months. Epilepsy was defined as two or more unprovoked seizures after hospital discharge. Epilepsy occurred in 7% of patients with SAH, was predicted by subdural hematoma and cerebral infarction, and was associated with poor functional recovery and quality of life. Our findings indicate that focal pathology, rather than diffuse injury from hemorrhage, is the principal cause of epilepsy after SAH.