Nonconvulsive seizures after traumatic brain injury are associated with hippocampal atrophy

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181f07334
• Publication Date: 2010-08-30T20:34:53Z
• Authors: P.M. Vespa; D.L. McArthur; Y. Xu; M. Eliseo; M. Etchepare; I. Dinov; J. Alger; T.P. Glenn; D. Hovda
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Electroencephalography; Middle Aged; Hippocampus; Cohort Studies; Seizures; Brain Injuries; Humans; Epilepsy, Generalized; Female; Prospective Studies; Atrophy; Aged; Follow-Up Studies

To determine if posttraumatic nonconvulsive electrographic seizures result in long-term brain atrophy.Prospective continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring was done 140 patients with moderate to severe traumatic injury (TBI) and in-depth study of 16 selected using serial volumetric MRI acutely at 6 months after TBI. Fluorodeoxyglucose PET the acute stage 14/16 patients. These data were retrospectively analyzed collection for 7 years.cEEG detected 32/140 (23%) entire cohort. In imaging subgroup, compared a cohort 10 age- GCS-matched TBI without seizures. this repetitive constituted status epilepticus 4/6 Patients had greater hippocampal atrophy as those (21 +/- 9 vs 12 6%, p = 0.017). Hippocampi ipsilateral seizure focus demonstrated degree nonseizure hippocampi (28 5 13 9%, 0.007). A single patient an ictal scan which increased glucose uptake.Acute occur frequently and, appear be associated disproportionate atrophy. suggest anatomic damage is potentially elicited by postinjury setting.