title: Consanguinity and epilepsy in Oran, Algeria: A case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this case-control study was to identify the significance of consanguinity and other risk factors for epilepsy in Oran, Algeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unrelated epileptic patients upwards of 16 years, who attended the Neurology Department between October 2013 and March 2014 were included in the study. Controls, matched for age and sex, were selected among non-epileptic patients attending the same department during the same period. The risk factors evaluated were: consanguinity, family history of epilepsy, perinatal complications, infection of the central nervous system, mental retardation, neurological impairment, history of febrile seizures, severe head trauma, cerebrovascular diseases, and addiction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  101 cases and 202 controls participated in the study. Multivariate logistic regression identified five factors significantly associated with epilepsy: first-degree of consanguinity (odds ratio (OR)=2.15), history of epilepsy in first-degree relatives (OR=4.03), antecedent of febrile seizures (OR=5.38), severe head injury (OR=2.94) and mental retardation (OR=9.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consanguinity, family history of epilepsy, history of febrile seizures, severe head trauma and mental retardation are risk factors for epilepsy. The implementation of a strategy for prevention and awareness of the impact of consanguineous marriages as well as genetic counseling for couples with a family history of epilepsy are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oran University Hospital, 31000, Algeria. Electronic address: amina.chentouf@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chentouf
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Oran 31000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Randa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Oran University Hospital, 31000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Aicha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dahdouh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oran University Hospital, 31000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Latifa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benbihi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Oran 31000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Soumia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benilha
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oran University Hospital, 31000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Mohand Laid
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Oubaiche
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurologie, Benaknoun University Hospital, Algiers 16000, Algeria.
authors.forename: Malika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaouch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003241:Consanguinity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Algeria; Consanguinity; Epilepsy; Oran; Risk factors