Background
Methods
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Management strategy
Follow-up
Statistical analysis
Results
Total population (n = 107) | Possible Epilepsy (n = 63, 58.9%) | Drug- resistant Epilepsy (n = 44, 41.1%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Mean age, years (mean ± SD, range) | 56 ± 21 (18–88) | 52 ± 21 (18–88) | 62 ± 18 (29–88) |
Male gender, n (%) | 46 (43.0) | 28 (44.4) | 18 (40.9) |
Heart diseasesa, n (%) | 35 (32.7) | 13 (20.6) | 22 (50.0) |
Neurological diseasesb, n (%) | 32 (29.9) | 22 (34.9) | 10 (22.7) |
Cardiovascular drugsc, n (%) | 46 (43.0) | 21 (33.3) | 25 (56.8) |
Antiepileptic drugsd, n (%) | 77 (72.0) | 33 (52.4) | 44 (100.0) |
T-LOC/patient/year (mean ± SD, range) | 4 ± 4 (2–20) | 3 ± 4 (2–20) | 4 ± 4 (2–20) |
T-LOC Prodromal symptoms | 66 (61.7) | 40 (63.5) | 26 (59.1) |
After T-LOC characteristics | |||
Involuntary movements | 58 (54.2) | 37 (58.7) | 21 (47.7) |
Mental contusion, n (%) | 26 (24.3) | 26 (41.3) | 12 (27.3) |
Physical injury, n (%) | 55 (51.4) | 31 (49.2) | 24 (54.6) |
Comorbidities, n (%) | |||
Hypertension, n (%) | 41 (38.3) | 20 (31.7) | 21 (47.7) |
Diabetes, n (%) | 10 (9.3) | 6 (9.5) | 4 (9.1) |
Dyslipidemia, n (%) | 18 (16.8) | 9 (14.3) | 9 (20.5) |
Total population (n = 107) | Possible Epilepsy (n = 63, 58.9%) | Drug-resistant Epilepsy (n = 44, 41.1%) | |
---|---|---|---|
EEG: normal patterna, n (%) | 12 (11.2) | 12 (19.0) | 0 (0) |
EEG: abnormal not epileptiformb, n (%) | 61 (57.0) | 51 (81.0) | 10 (22.7) |
EEG: epileptiformc, n (%) | 34 (31.8) | 0 (0.0) | 34 (77.3) |
Temporal lobe spike activity, n (%) | 27 (25.2) | 0 (0.0) | 27 (61.4) |
Neuro-imaging (CT/MRI) | |||
Normal, n (%) | 58 (54.2) | 40 (63.5) | 18 (40.9) |
Tumors, n (%) | 4 (3.7) | 3 (4.8) | 1 (2.3) |
Cortical Atrophy, n (%) | 9 (8.4) | 5 (7.9) | 4 (9.1) |
Leukoaraiosis, n (%) | 24 (22.4) | 14 (22.2) | 10 (22.7) |
Neurosurgery findings, n (%) | 7 (6.5) | 0 (0.0) | 7 (15.9) |
Cortico-subcortical infarcts, n (%) | 2 (1.9) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.5) |
Limbic Encephalitis findings, n (%) | 1 (0.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.3) |
Cortical malformations, n (%) | 2 (1.9) | 1 (1.6) | 1 (2.3) |
Total population (n = 107) | Possible Epilepsy (n = 63) | Drug-resistant Epilepsy (n = 44) | |
---|---|---|---|
Abnormal ECGa, n (%) | 9 (8.4) | 6 (9.5) | 3 (6.8) |
Orthostatic Hypotension, n (%) | 33 (30.8) | 17 (27.0) | 16 (36.4) |
Head-up Tilt testing | |||
Performed, n (%) | 92 (86.0) | 55 (87.3) | 37 (84.1) |
Diagnostic, n (%) | 52 (48.6) | 35 (55.6) | 17 (38.6) |
Myoclonic jerks, n (%) | 18 (16.8) | 16 (25.4) | 2 (4.5) |
Carotid Sinus Massage | |||
Performed, n (%) | 104 (97.2) | 60 (95.2) | 44 (100.0) |
Diagnostic, n (%) | 7 (6.5) | 5 (7.9) | 2 (4.5) |
Echocardiography performed b, n (%) | 43 (40.2) | 27 (42.9) | 16 (36.4) |
24 h Holter monitoring performedc, n (%) | 43 (40.2) | 20 (31.7) | 23 (52.3) |
Exercise test performed, n (%) | 13 (12.1) | 10 (15.9) | 3 (6.8) |
Electrophysiological study performed, n (%) | 3 (2.8) | 2 (3.2) | 1 (2.3) |
ILR implanted d, n (%) | 13 (12.1) | 6 (9.5) | 7 (15.9) |
Total population (n = 107) | Possible Epilepsy (n = 63) | Drug-resistant Epilepsy (n = 44) | |
---|---|---|---|
Isolated Syncope, n (%) | 45 (42.1) | 45 (71.4) | 0 (0.0) |
Neurally-mediated, n (%) | 30 (28.0) | 30 (47.6) | 0 (0.0) |
Vasovagal, n (%) | 24 (22.4) | 24 (38.1) | 0 (0.0) |
Carotid Sinus Syndrome, n (%) | 5 (4.7) | 5 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) |
Situational, n (%) | 1 (0.9) | 1 (1.6) | 0 (0.0) |
Orthostatic hypotension, n (%) | 10 (9.3) | 10 (15.9) | 0 (0.0) |
Cardiac, n (%) | 2 (1.9) | 2 (3.2) | 0 (0.0) |
Unexplained syncope, n (%) | 3 (2.8) | 3 (4.8) | 0 (0.0) |
Isolated Epilepsy, n (%) | 21 (19.6) | 6 (9.5) | 15 (34.1) |
Idiopathic, n (%) | 14 (13.1) | 5 (7.9) | 9 (20.5)a
|
Symptomatic, n (%) | 6 (5.6) | 1 (1.6) | 5 (11.4) |
Probably symptomatic, n (%) | 1 (0.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.3) |
Syncope & Epilepsy | 40 (37.4) | 11 (17.5) | 29 (65.9) |
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures | 1 (0.9) | 1 (1.6) | 0 (0.0) |