title: Clinical epidemiology of posttraumatic epilepsy in a group of Chinese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the incidence, types of onset, and risk factors of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective follow-up study of patients discharged from the Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces between September 2004 and September 2008 with a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete clinical information was available on 2826 patients. Of the 2826 TBI patients, 141 developed PTE, providing an incidence rate of 5.0%. Twenty-four cases (0.8%) had posttraumatic seizures (PTS), of which 16 (66.7%) continued to experience after the acute phase of their TBI, accounting for 5.0% of the total PTE cases. A total of 125 cases (88.7%) were diagnosed as presenting with late-stage seizures, occurring from 10 days to three years after TBI (93/141 (66.0%) presented within six months after the TBI, 14/141 (9.9%) between six and twelve months, 22/141 (15.7%) between one and two years and only 12/141 (8.5%) between two and three years after the TBI. The severity of PTE was rated mild, medium, and severe in 3.6%, 6.9%, and 17% of the TBI patients. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to identify factors contributing to the risk of developing PTE. Five parameters contributed to the model: Older age, greater severity of brain injury, abnormal neuroimaging, surgical treatment, and early-stage seizures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, severity of brain injury, neuroimaging results, treatment methods, and early-stage seizures are independent risk factors of PTE.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Neurology and Neurosurgery Center, Hospital of Medical College of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Chenlindao 220, Hedong Districts, Tianjin 300162, PR China. yongqing6509@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yongqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Huili
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xueling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004834:Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult