Prevalence of epilepsy in a case series of multiple sclerosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of epilepsy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has been a subject of interest for some years. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical, radiological and electroencephalographic characteristics of epileptic seizures and to calculate the prevalence of epilepsy in a case series of MS patients.


METHODS
Medical charts of MS patients were reviewed and patients who had suffered epileptic seizures were identified.


RESULTS
Of 160 cases analyzed, 5 had suffered epileptic seizures and one had comorbid mesial hippocampal sclerosis, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with complex partial seizures that began fifteen years prior to her diagnosis of MS. In the other four patients, seizures occurred both during the acute phase of the disease and in the chronic phase.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of epileptic seizures in MS patients in this study was 2.5%, similar to that found in other studies.
Depar tment of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
Cynthia Dumas
CD
Viveiros
Regina Maria Papais
RM
Alvarenga
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence