Early-onset seizures are correlated with late-onset seizures in children with arterial ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early-onset seizures are common in children with arterial ischemic stroke, but the clinical features and effects on the outcome of early-onset seizures have been less studied in children.

METHODS: Children aged 1 month to 18 years presenting with first-time and image-confirmed arterial ischemic stroke were identified for analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 78 survivors of arterial ischemic stroke were enrolled. Twenty (25.6%) had early-onset seizures, and 90% were initial presentation. Younger children (mean, 3.4±3.9 versus 9.0±6.2 years; P<0.001) and cortical involvement (5% versus 63.8%; P=0.01) are more likely to have early-onset seizures. Thirteen of 20 survivors with early-onset seizures had late-onset seizures after the acute stage, and 12 of them were diagnosed as poststroke epilepsy.

CONCLUSIONS: Early-onset seizures occurred in 25.6% of children with arterial ischemic stroke. Younger age and cortical involvement were risk factors for early-onset seizures. Sixty-five percent of children with early-onset seizures had late-onset seizures after the acute stage.