Posterior circulation lesions are more frequently associated with early seizures after a stroke

Abstract

Background. Early seizures (ES) following stroke are prevalent among the elderly population, representing the most common type of acquired seizures. This study aimed to determine the incidence of ES and investigate potential associations with various clinical and radiological factors. Materials and Methods. 260 stroke patients (mean age 72±13.2, 48.5% females) were prospectively enrolled and followed. Baseline demographic data, clinical data, stroke subtype, ES occurrence, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECT) were collected and analyzed. Results. ES was observed in 11.6% of patients with ischemic stroke compared to 7.1% among patients with hemorrhagic stroke. ES occurred more frequently in those with posterior circulation stroke (18.5% vs. 7.1%, P=0.008) and those with NIHSS >15 (19.4% vs. 8.4%, P=0.04). In a logistic regression analysis that adjusted for vascular risk factors and NIHSS, posterior circulation stroke remained significantly associated with ES, with an odds ratio of 3.14 (95% CI 1.20 to 7.73, P=0.012). Conclusions. This study revealed that ES following stroke is more common in patients with posterior circulation lesions. These findings emphasize the need for further investigation into additional factors that may influence ES occurrence and its impact on stroke management and patient outcomes.

Keywords

• Stroke
• early seizures
• posterior circulation stroke
• NIHSS
• ASPECT