Common etiologies of adult onset epilepsies in northwest of Iran

Abstract

Frequency of common etiologies of adult onset epilepsy is different in various studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of common etiologies of late adult onset epilepsies. All patients referred to Razi and Imam Khomeini Hospitals in the year 2003 with at least two seizure attacks beginning after age of 50 were evaluated. In the majority of cases neuroimaging, electroencephalography and echocardiography were done and risk factors for atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular diseases were investigated. All medical records and previous medical histories were reviewed. A total of 97 patients were included. We found hemorrhagic stroke in 10 (10.3%), ischemic stroke in 43 (44.3%) and space-occupying lesion (all of them were tumors) in 19 patients (19.6%). In 24 (24.7%) cases we could not find a clear cause for seizure attacks. In conclusion, since seizures were associated with a central nervous system disease in about 75% of the patients, careful investigation is necessary. We also recommend better control of risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases in our country.