Among patients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the likelihood of developing post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) increases with age, the early onset of seizures, and the severity of the brain injury, according to an analysis of insurance claims from 2004 to 2014.
- There were approximately 2.8 million emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths from traumatic brain injuries in the US in 2013.
- Early seizures occurred in 0.5% of patients with TBI.
- Over a 9 year period, the incidence of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) increased from 1 to 4% in this population.
- Early onset of seizures, older age, and TBI severity increased the likelihood of PTE.
- Prophylactic acetazolamide seemed to reduce the risk of PTE, when compared to patients who had received no anti-epilepsy drugs.
DeGrauw X, Thurman D, Xu L, et al. Epidemiology of traumatic brain injury-associated epilepsy and early use of anti-epilepsy drugs: An analysis of insurance claims data, 2004-2014. [Published online ahead of print July 23, 2018] Epilepsy Res. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2018.07.012
