Post Stroke Epilepsy

Stroke is an important cause of acute symptomatic seizures and epilepsy in the elderly. Post stroke early onset seizures occur within two weeks of stroke onset, while late-onset seizures occur after two weeks. The incidence of early seizures is high with lobar hemorrhage, cortical infarcts especially embolic, agitated acute confusional state and increased stroke severity at stroke onset. Both early and late onset post-stroke seizures, left sided cortical infarcts, increased stroke severity and recurrent strokes are the risk factors for post stroke late epilepsy. Post stroke early seizures as well as late epilepsy do not significantly affect long-term outcome and rehabilitation of stroke. Management options for early seizures and late epilepsy vary and need to be individualized.