RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Predictors and long-term outcome of seizures after bacterial brain abscess
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 913
OP 917
DO 10.1136/jnnp.2009.195073
VO 81
IS 8
A1 Ming-Jung Chuang
A1 Wen-Neng Chang
A1 Hsueh-Wen Chang
A1 Wei-Che Lin
A1 Nai-Wen Tsai
A1 Mei-Jen Hsieh
A1 Hung-Chen Wang
A1 Cheng-Hsien Lu
YR 2010
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/81/8/913.abstract
AB Background Seizures are one of the most important neurological complications of bacterial brain abscesses. A better understanding of the risk factors of seizures following bacterial brain abscesses is needed to predict those who will require treatment.Methods A total of 205 patients were enrolled in this 22-year retrospective study. Prognostic variables were analysed based on Cox's proportional hazards model after a minimum of 18 months of follow-up.Results Seizures occurred in 48 patients who had bacterial brain abscesses, including acute symptomatic seizures in 17% (35/205) and unprovoked seizures in 6.4% (13/205). Altogether, 27 patients had early seizures and 21 had late seizures. The overall mortality rate in the seizure patients was 23% (11/48) and seven patients progressed to epilepsy.Conclusion Cox's proportional hazards model demonstrated that valvular heart diseases as the underlying diseases and the presence of a fronto-parietal distribution of bacterial brain abscess were independently predictive of seizures, and the presence of late seizures was predictive of developing epilepsy. Most first seizures occurred within 3 y after bacterial brain abscesses.