Abstract Details

Title Seizures in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Epidemiology and Clinical Associations

Topic Epilepsy

Presentation(s) IN9 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 005

Objective

Background Epilepsy prevalence seems to be greater in patients with MS than in general population. Its occurence is further evidence of grey matter involvement in MS.

Design/Methods The registry of the center was searched for patients with epilepsy. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Medical history of patients was revised. Each patient was matched for sex and age versus two without seizures; linear and logistic regressions were performed to test association of seizures with different variables: (demographic: gender, marital status, education, employment; clinical: age onset, delay onset-diagnosis, relapse rate, clinic (CIS, RR, SP); onset (supratentorial, brainstem-cerebellar, optical, spinal); therapy; EDSS; first MRI lesions: number (9-less), periventricular (3-less), infratentorial, iuxtacortical, and enhanced.

Results 13/450 patients were found, 4 males, 9 females, age onset=27.7 (16-52; SD= 9.74). Prevalence was 2.88% (1.53-4.92; m=2.75%, f=2.95%). Epilepsy was the onset of MS in 3 patients (2f-1m), in 2 occurred during relapse; in 5 subsequently, independently from relapses. Epilepsy started before MS in 5; in 2 of these MRI showed demyelination. One showed generalized irritative EEG pattern and generalized seizures (CGTC); 5 CGTC, and focal EEG pattern (secondary generalization); 1 partial complex seizures; 6 partial seizures. None had status epilepticus. Linear regression showed no differences. Logistic regression model accounted for 40% of the variability; stepwise procedure (rho-squared=0.371) showed association of seizures with celibate (p=0.02), lower frequency of MRI contrast enhancement (p=0.05), and higher frequency of subcortical lesions (p=0.042).

Conclusions Our prevalence, based on data from an historically territory based MS district center, is more similar than other italian data to population studies. The significant association of seizures with subcortical lesions stress the importance of grey matter lesions in MS.

Authors/Disclosures
Gerardo Iuliano, PhD (Osp Riuniti San Giovanni Di Dio) PRESENTER	Dr. Iuliano has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Maddalena Cianfrani	No disclosure on file
Rachelle S. Doody, MD, PhD	Dr. Doody has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of F. Hoffman-LaRoche. Dr. Doody has stock in F. Hoffman-LaRoche.

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