Gender differences in epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to look at gender differences in unselected populations of patients with epilepsy classified according to the 1989 International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) criteria.


METHODS
Data were obtained from two sources: (a) the EpiBase database at the outpatient clinic at the Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, confined to adults with epilepsy (n=2,170), and (b) the Danish Twin Registry (n=318).


RESULTS
In localization-related epilepsy, no overall gender difference was found in either the EpiBase population (n=1,511; w=750 (50%), m=761 (50%); p=0.80) or in the twin population (n=172; w=86 (50%), m=86 (50%); p=1.00). However, in the EpiBase population, localization-related symptomatic epilepsies were more frequent in men (n=939; w=426 (45%), m=513 (55%); p=0.005); and cryptogenic localization-related epilepsies were more frequent in women (n=572; w=324 (57%), m=248 (43%); p=0.002). In generalized epilepsy, more women than men were diagnosed in both populations [EpiBase: n=480, w=280 (58%), m=200 (42%); p<0.001; twin population: n=105, w=63 (60%), m=42 (40%); p=0.05]. The difference was confined to idiopathic generalized epilepsy [EpiBase: n=437, w=259 (59%), m=178 (41%); p<0.001; twin population: n=94, w=60 (64%), m=34 (36%); p=0.01].


CONCLUSIONS
More women than men were diagnosed with idiopathic generalized epilepsy in two epilepsy populations. Overall, no gender difference was found in localization-related epilepsy, but localization-related symptomatic epilepsies were more frequent in men, and cryptogenic localization-related epilepsies were more frequent in women The results suggest a gender susceptibility to the development of specific epilepsy subtypes.
Christensen
Jakob
J
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. Jakob@farm.au.dk
Kjeldsen
Marianne Juel
MJ
Andersen
Henning
H
Friis
Mogens Laue
ML
Sidenius
Per
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data