title: Survey of aspirin use in Sturge-Weber syndrome.
abstract: Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare congenital disorder. Seizures, stroke-like episodes, glaucoma, headache, and developmental delay are frequently associated features. An Internet-based questionnaire was designed to assess the frequency of use, effectiveness, and safety of aspirin treatment in Sturge-Weber syndrome. Thirty-four of 98 subjects who completed the survey reported having used aspirin. The mean number of reported stroke-like episodes was reduced from 1.1 to 0.3 per month in the year after starting aspirin (n = 26, p = .014). The median number of seizures was significantly reduced from 3 to 1 episodes per month (n = 21, p = .002). Thirty-nine percent of subjects reported a history of complications (predominantly increased bruising or gum/nose bleeding) while on aspirin; however, none reported discontinuing aspirin because of side effects. Our study showed a significant relative reduction in both self-reported seizure frequency and stroke-like episodes after starting aspirin. It also suggests that low-dose aspirin can be safely used in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mihee J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
authors.forename: Christoph U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: T Andrew
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zabel
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Comi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013341:Sturge-Weber Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D001241:Aspirin