According to the definition of epilepsy, alcohol-withdrawal seizures are defined not belonging to epilepsy. However, seizures can often recur in patients with alcohol-related seizures, and there have been previous literatures to address epileptogenesis related to chronic alcohol consumption. This study aimed to investigate clinical characteristics and prognosis of developing epilepsy in patients with alcohol-related seizures.

We analyzed the comparison of characteristics in 96 patients with or without seizure recurrence. There are significant relationships between EEG findings and seizure recurrence(P value 0.009); between alcohol consumption and seizure recurrence(P value 0.029).

We studied the comparison of characteristics in patients with or without developing epilepsy. There are significant associations between EEG findings and epilepsy(P value  0.073); between seizure recurrence and epilepsy(P value<0.001).

As amount of alcohol consumption increased, the prevalence of seizure recurrence increases. If patients with alcohol-related seizures show abnormal EEG findings, they have higher risk of seizure recurrence and diagnosis of epilepsy. Thus, this study indicates that alcohol consumption can lead to epilepsy, demonstrated by abnormal EEG findings.