title: Cortico-juxtacortical involvement increases risk of epileptic seizures in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have reported an increased risk for epileptic seizures in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, data on the pathogenesis of seizures remain inconclusive. The aim of our study is to evaluate prevalence, clinical and paraclinical features of epileptic attacks in our MS cohort and to search MS-specific risk factors for epileptic seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cohort of 428 MS patients, 13 patients were identified with epileptic seizures occurring at any point during the course of MS including at MS onset. As a control group, we selected 26 MS patients without seizures and matched for gender, age and date of MS onset. We compared demographic features and clinic-radiological findings between the both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients (3%) were identified as having epileptic attacks. Ten patients (77%) experienced focal seizures, half of whom had confirmed secondary generalization. We did not find an association between seizures and disease course. Most patients had a single or few (2-5) seizures. MS patients with seizures had a significantly higher number of cortical and juxtacortical lesions on T2-weighted/fluid attenuation inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging than control group [OR = 2.6 CI95% (1.0-6.5); P = 0.047].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support a credible role of cortical and juxtacortical involvement in the development of epileptic seizures in MS.
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. elenahmlapiscina@gmail.com
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Martínez-Lapiscina
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ayuso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lacruz
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Gurtubay
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bujanda
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bacaicoa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors