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Novel calculator predicts risk of epilepsy after rare stroke

Date:
November 12, 2024
Source:
University of Gothenburg
Summary:
A practical calculator predicts the risk of epilepsy after venous stroke. The aim is to improve care for those affected, which are predominantly young adults.
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A practical calculator that predicts the risk of epilepsy after venous stroke is presented in a study from the University of Gothenburg and others. The aim is to improve care for those affected, which are predominantly young adults.

A blood clot in the cerebral venous system (cerebral venous thrombosis) is a rare but important cause of stroke. In Sweden, around 150 individuals are affected each year, typically affecting women between the ages of 20 and 50. One in three patients experiences a seizure during the acute phase. Predicting who is at high or low risk of recurrent seizures, epilepsy, is complicated.

In an international collaboration between fifteen centers across three continents, researchers from Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital have developed a practical calculator that quickly calculates the risk of developing epilepsy at the onset of the disease. The results of the multi-center study are now presented in JAMA Neurology and the tool is made freely available.

Important to predict the aftermath

First author of the study is Erik Lindgren Bogdanoff, researcher at the Section of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, and Resident Physician in Neurology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

"The calculator predicts the risk of epilepsy based on factors that are already available in clinical routine when the person is hospitalized, there is therefore no need for additional tests or investigations," he says, and he continues:

"For those affected by sinus thrombosis, it is very important to know what the aftermath looks like. Priorly, we have not able to predict what patients have the highest risk of developing epilepsy after cerebral venous thrombosis." With a high predicted risk of future seizures, preventive medication can be considered in consultation between doctor and patient.

Erik Lindgren Bogdanoff emphasizes that although epilepsy could have negative impact on the quality of life, most people with epilepsy are able to pursue their life normally even with diagnosis of epilepsy. However, without the proper treatment, seizures can be so severe that they require hospitalization. It is hoped that the calculator can be used by physicians worldwide to support treatment decisions or inform patients about risks, and can be used in future studies on preventive treatment with medicine.

Can improve care for young people

The study is based on registry data from the International Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Consortium (ICVTC) and the results have since been confirmed in two additional independent registries: the US ACTION-CVT and the Israeli CVT Study. In total, data from over 2,000 individuals have been analyzed.

"The involvement of research participants, together with extensive international collaboration, has been a prerequisite for obtaining sufficient data and conducting studies despite being a rare disease, which provide results that can be translated into clinical practice. Although the disease itself is relatively rare, it is important to improve care for those affected. The results are a step towards more person-centered care for young people affected by stroke," says Erik Lindgren Bogdanoff.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Gothenburg. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Erik Lindgren, Liqi Shu, Naaem Simaan, Katarzyna Krzywicka, Maria A. de Winter, Mayte Sánchez van Kammen, Jeremy Molad, Piers Klein, Hen Hallevi, Rani Barnea, Mirjam R. Heldner, Sini Hiltunen, Diana Aguiar de Sousa, José M. Ferro, Antonio Arauz, Jukka Putaala, Marcel Arnold, Thanh N. Nguyen, Christoph Stretz, Turgut Tatlisumak, Katarina Jood, Shadi Yaghi, Ronen R. Leker, Jonathan M. Coutinho, Maryam Mansour, Patrícia Canhão, Esme Ekizoglu, Miguel Rodrigues, Elisa M. Silva, Carlos Garcia-Esperon, Valentina Arnao, Shorooq Aladin, Rom Mendel, Paolo Aridon, Mine Sezgin, Andrey Alasheev, Andrey Smolkin, Daniel Guisado-Alonso, Nilufer Yesilot, Miguel A. Barboza, Masoud Ghiasian, Suzanne M. Silvis, Ton Fang, James E. Siegler, Teddy Wu, Duncan Wilson, Syed Daniyal Asad, Sami Al Kasab, Eyad Almallouhi, Jennifer Frontera, Aaron Rothstein, Ekaterina Bakradze, Setareh Salehi Omran, Nils Henninger, Lindsey Kuohn, Adeel Zubair, Richa Sharma, Deborah Kerrigan, Yasmin Aziz, Eva Mistry, Susanna M. Zuurbier. Development and Validation of a Clinical Score to Predict Epilepsy After Cerebral Venous Thrombosis. JAMA Neurology, 2024; DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.3481

Cite This Page:

University of Gothenburg. "Novel calculator predicts risk of epilepsy after rare stroke." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 November 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241112123800.htm>.
University of Gothenburg. (2024, November 12). Novel calculator predicts risk of epilepsy after rare stroke. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 13, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241112123800.htm
University of Gothenburg. "Novel calculator predicts risk of epilepsy after rare stroke." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241112123800.htm (accessed November 13, 2024).

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