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ShareScienceDaily (Sep. 6, 2005) — September 6, 2005 - Researchers in Norway determined that stroke severity measured by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale is a statistically significant predictor for epilepsy after stroke. Data shows that more than 20,000 Americans will develop epilepsy due to stroke each year. This research is published in the August issue of the journal Epilepsia.
In one of the longest follow-up studies performed with data from almost 500 patients, researchers found that 3.1% of people who suffered a stroke developed epilepsy. Those who experienced severe strokes had five-times the risk of developing epilepsy post-stroke compared to those with less severe strokes. Neither treatment in a specialized stroke unit, age at onset of stroke, or geographical location seemed to influence the risk of developing epilepsy after a stroke in this study.
"It is important to perform further studies to find out whether newer treatments, such as acute thrombolysis can reduce the frequency of post-stroke epilepsy," states Morten I. Lossius, Director of the Department for Education and Research of the National Centre for Epilepsy in Norway. "It is also important to try to improve the treatment of stroke patients beyond what today are known as the gold standards, which apart from thrombolysis, was followed in our study. New neuroprotective drugs and increased use of thrombolysis may play an important role in future treatment."
Researchers add it is vital that health workers are aware of the risk of post-stroke epilepsy. If they are able to detect epileptic seizures among stroke patients, treatment with anti-epileptic drugs are often effective in preventing the patient from having more seizures.
About the Journal
Epilepsia is the leading, most authoritative source for current
clinical and research results on all aspects of epilepsy. As the
journal of the International League Against Epilepsy, Epilepsia
presents subscribers with scientific evidence and clinical methodology
in: clinical neurology, neurophysiology, molecular biology,
neuroimaging, neurochemistry, neurosurgery, pharmacology,
neuroepidemiology, and therapeutic trials. Each monthly issue features
original peer reviewed articles, progress in epilepsy research, brief
communications, editorial commentaries, special supplements, meeting
reports, book reviews, and announcements.
About Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher,
partnering with more than 600 academic and professional societies.
Blackwell publishes over 750 journals annually and, to date has
published close to 6,000 text and reference books, across a wide range
of academic, medical, and professional subjects.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Blackwell Publishing Ltd., via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
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