title: Illicit drug use and the risk of new-onset seizures.
abstract: The authors studied the use of heroin, marijuana, and cocaine before the onset of a first seizure in 308 patients with seizures and 294 controls at Harlem Hospital Center, New York City, between 1981 and 1984. Heroin use, both past and present, appeared to be a risk factor for all first seizures (adjusted odds ratio = 2.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.53-5.74). For unprovoked seizures, the adjusted odds ratio was 2.58 (95% CI 1.36-4.90) for ever heroin use and 4.70 (95% CI 0.86-25.78) for heroin use within 24 hours of hospitalization. For provoked seizures, respective adjusted odds ratios were 3.65 (95% CI 1.54-8.65) and 27.74 (95% CI 3.57-215.52). Marijuana use appeared to be a protective factor against first seizures in men. For men with unprovoked seizures, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.42 (95% CI 0.22-0.82) for ever marijuana use and 0.36 (95% CI 0.18-0.74) for marijuana use within 90 days of hospitalization. For men with provoked seizures, respective adjusted odds ratios were 1.03 (95% CI 0.36-2.89) and 0.18 (95% CI 0.04-0.84). Cocaine use, while common among study subjects, was not shown to be a significant risk factor either for all first seizures or for subgroups of seizures, regardless of the time of last use. The authors conclude that heroin use is a risk factor and marijuana use a protective factor for new-onset seizures.
authors.affiliation: G. H. Sergievsky Center, Faculty of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brust
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Susser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003042:Cocaine; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine