Systematic prolonged video-electroencephalograms identify electrographic seizures in 5% of acute stroke patients with aphasia

M Quirins; A M Petrescu; P Masnou; V Bouilleret; C Denier

doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2020.10.003

Systematic prolonged video-electroencephalograms identify electrographic seizures in 5% of acute stroke patients with aphasia

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2021 Oct;177(8):1001-1005. doi: 10.1016/j.neurol.2020.10.003. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

Authors

M Quirins¹, A M Petrescu², P Masnou², V Bouilleret², C Denier²

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Neurology (MQ, PM, CD) and Neurophysiology (AP, VB), Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Departments of Neurology (MQ, PM, CD) and Neurophysiology (AP, VB), Bicêtre Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.

PMID: 33483091
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2020.10.003

Abstract

In stroke units, diagnosing seizures may be difficult, especially in aphasic patients. We discuss herein our systematic 4-hour video EEG monitoring of 61 patients with aphasia within the first 72hours after the onset of ischaemic stroke. Five electrographic seizures were identified in 3 patients, with no clinical signs apparent on the video and no symptoms reported by patients. We did not record status epilepticus nor generalized seizure. Comparative analyses disclosed a higher risk of early seizures in patients with haemorrhagic transformation. Video EEG monitoring detected electrographic seizures in 5% of stroke patients with aphasia. This monitoring could be useful for selected patients, especially those with haemorrhagic transformation.

Keywords: Aphasia; EEG; Early seizure; Epilepsy; Ischemic stroke.

MeSH terms

Aphasia* / diagnosis
Aphasia* / etiology
Brain Ischemia*
Electroencephalography
Humans
Retrospective Studies
Seizures / diagnosis
Seizures / etiology
Stroke* / complications
Stroke* / diagnosis