Seizures after transplantation.

PURPOSE: To summarize information on the history, incidence, clinical manifestation, best treatment, as well as prognosis of seizures in transplant recipients.

METHODS: In October 2017, we searched the literature on PubMed in English with the search terms: "transplantation" AND "seizure", "transplantation" AND "epilepsy", "transplantation"AND "status epilepticus", "immunosuppressant" AND "seizure", "immunosuppressant" AND "epilepsy". Publications not based on new data and original research were not included in this article.

RESULTS: Seizures including generalized seizures, focal seizures and status epilepticus are a common central nervous system complication after transplantation. The incidence of seizures varied between different kinds of transplantations. The reported incidence of seizures was 7%-27% in association with solid organ transplantations and 1.6%-15.4% with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Most of seizures appeared in the early post-transplantation period. Patients often had a favorable prognosis, however, in some conditions, recurrent or intractable seizures may occur.

CONCLUSIONS: The underlying pathogenesis of new-onset seizures or epilepsy in recipients of transplantation needs to be further elucidated. In addition, more information is required from prospective studies and research focusing on therapeutic strategies.