Electroclinical characteristics of new-onset seizures associated with neurocysticercosis.
OBJECTIVE
Although seizures are the most common presentation of neurocysticercosis (NCC), the electroclinical characteristics of the seizures have not been adequately studied.


METHODS
The study cohort included 308 consecutive patients presenting with a new-onset seizure, both acute symptomatic or unprovoked. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (NCC group), those in whom imaging studies revealed active or inactive NCC (N = 184 (59.7%)) and group 2 (non-NCC group), those in whom either imaging was normal or revealed abnormalities other than NCC or the diagnosis was idiopathic generalized epilepsy (N = 124 (40.3%)).


RESULTS
Clinical features significantly associated with group 1 included focal seizures (specifically, aphasic seizures (P < 0.05)), seizure clusters (P < 0.0001), postictal Todd's paresis (P < 0.05), and peri-ictal headaches (P < 0.008). In addition, somatosensory and visual seizures, and focal-clonic and focal-tonic were more frequent in this group. Generalized clonic seizures (P < 0.05) were significantly more common in the group 2. The findings of regional epileptiform abnormalities (P = 0.0001) and primary generalized epilepsy (P < 0.0001) on electroencephalography were significantly more common in group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients presenting with new-onset seizure, aphasic seizures, seizure clusters, postictal Todd's palsy and peri-ictal headaches might augur the finding of NCC, both active and inactive lesions, on imaging.
Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Sahil
S
Mehta
Gagandeep
G
Singh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult