title: Subacute seizure incidence in thrombolysis-treated ischemic stroke patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the incidence of seizures in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with chemical (tPA) thrombolysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study including all thrombolysis patients treated in Calgary between January 1, 2001, and October 31, 2006. Descriptive statistics and age/sex-adjusted P values were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 400 eligible patients (median age 74.0 years, range: 24-77), 16 (4%) developed post-stroke seizures: 10 (62.5%) within one week (early) and 6 (37.5%) after 1 week but within the hospital stay (late). Single-vessel anterior circulation involvement (93.8% vs. 87%, P = 0.34) and hemorrhage (37.5% vs. 20%, P = 0.15) were more common in those with compared to without seizures but did not reach statistical significance. Atrial fibrillation was more common in those with (56.3%) than without (36.1%) seizures (P = 0.04). Death during admission was more likely (P = 0.03) in those who sustained seizures (37.5%) compared to those without seizures (17.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cohort of tPA-treated patients, post-stroke seizures were associated with atrial fibrillation and early mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29th Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. Philippe.couillard@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couillard
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Almekhlafi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jetté
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pow
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: St Germaine-Smith
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator