Epilepsy in patients with multiple sclerosis: radiological-clinical correlations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine potential mechanisms of epilepsy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
Among 402 patients with clinically and radiologically defined MS, including de novo cases, presenting to the Neurology Service, University Hospital of Dijon, we identified 17 with epileptic seizures (4.25%). Among them, the percentage with partial seizures (50%) was greater than that in the reference population.


RESULTS
In most of the patients with MS, plaques were localized in the frontal region, associated with frontal and callosal atrophy, a frontal syndrome, and severe disability status (as assessed by a standard scale). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed numerous subcortical plaques. Seizures generally were well controlled with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the subcortical plaques of MS underlie seizure activity in patients with MS and epilepsy.
Moreau
T
T
Neurophysiological Laboratory, Hôpital Croix Rousse, Lyon, France.
Sochurkova
D
D
Lemesle
M
M
Madinier
G
G
Billiar
T
T
Giroud
M
M
Dumas
R
R
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence