title: The frequency, characteristics and prognosis of epileptic seizures at the onset of stroke.
abstract: In a series of 230 patients admitted to hospital with a stroke, the frequency and significance of epileptic seizures at onset was assessed. Thirteen (5.7%) suffered single or multiple witnessed seizures at the onset of their stroke. Seizures were evenly distributed among all pathological stroke sub-types but were restricted to lesions in the carotid artery territory. They indicated a poorer prognosis over the first 2 days. Six of the 13 presenting with stroke and seizures had prior seizures and, if they survived, continued to have fits. The five patients surviving with stroke and a first seizure were all fit-free after 30 months follow-up.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shinton
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Melnick
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Beevers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis