title: Risk factors for seizures after first-time ischemic stroke by magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seizures are important neurological complications of ischemic stroke. There is a need to further clarify the risk factors of seizures following ischemic stroke and predict those who will require treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-three (143) first-time ischemic stroke patients were enrolled in this one-year (2002) retrospective study. Prognostic variables were analyzed based on the Cox's proportional hazards model after a minimum follow-up period of six years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seizures occurred in 13 first-time ischemic stroke patients, including acute symptomatic seizures in two (1.4%) and unprovoked seizures in 11 (7.7%). Only one progressed to status epilepticus during hospitalization. After six years of follow-up, the median (inter-quartile range) Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was 3 (3,4) for patients with seizures and 4 (3,4) for those without seizures. Regarding seizure control after discharge in the 13 cases, 12 were seizure-free with or without anti-epileptic drugs and one had 1-3 seizures per year. Only the presence of cortical distribution of ischemic infarction (p=0.009, OR=5.549, 95% CI=1.53-20.19) was independently associated with seizures by the Cox's proportional hazards model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of seizures following first-time ischemic stroke is low and may have delayed manifestation. Cortical distribution of the ischemic infarction is a risk factors for seizures.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: I-Hui
authors: IH
authors: Chiang
authors: Wen-Neng
authors: WN
authors: Chang
authors: Wei-Che
authors: WC
authors: Lin
authors: Yao-Chung
authors: YC
authors: Chuang
authors: Ku-Chou
authors: KC
authors: Chang
authors: Nai-Wen
authors: NW
authors: Tsai
authors: Chia-Wei
authors: CW
authors: Liou
authors: Tzu-Kuan
authors: TK
authors: Sun
authors: Song-Seng
authors: SS
authors: Loke
authors: Chao-Tung
authors: CT
authors: Chen
authors: Chih-Fang
authors: CF
authors: Huang
authors: Wei-Cheng
authors: WC
authors: Huang
authors: Pei-Ming
authors: PM
authors: Wang
authors: Cheng-Hsien
authors: CH
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis