Objective:In order to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) as well as its predictors and correlates, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Methods:Our protocol was registered with PROSPERO and the PRISMA and MOOSE reporting standards were followed. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. We used a double arcsine transformation and random-effects models to carry out our meta-analyses. We performed random-effects meta-regressions using study-level data.Results:Our search strategy identified 10,794 abstracts. Of these, 103 articles met our eligibility criteria. There was high inter-study heterogeneity and risk of bias. The cumulative incidence of DRE was 25.0 % (95% CI: 16.8, 34.3) in child studies but 14.6% (95% CI: 8.8, 21.6) in adult/mixed ages studies. The prevalence of DRE was 13.7% (95% CI: 9.2, 19.0) in population/community-based populations but 36.3% (95% CI: 30.4, 42.4) in clinic-based cohorts. Meta-regression confirmed that the prevalence of DRE was higher in clinic-based populations and in focal epilepsy. Multiple predictors and correlates of DRE were identified. The most reported of these were having a neurological deficit, an abnormal EEG, and symptomatic epilepsy. The most reported genetic predictors of DRE were polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene.Conclusions:Our observations provide a basis for estimating the incidence and prevalence of DRE, which vary between populations. We identified numerous putative DRE predictors and correlates. These findings are important to plan epilepsy services, including epilepsy surgery, a crucial treatment option for people with disabling seizures and DRE.

Background The optimal approach for cancer screening after an ischemic stroke remains unclear. Aims We sought to summarize the existing evidence regarding the frequency and predictors of cancer after an ischemic stroke. Summary of review We searched seven databases from January 1980 to September 2019 for articles reporting malignant tumors and myeloproliferative neoplasms diagnosed after an ischemic stroke (PROSPERO protocol: CRD42019132455). We screened 15,400 records and included 51 articles. The pooled cumulative incidence of cancer within one year after an ischemic stroke was 13.6 per thousand (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6–24.8), higher in studies focusing on cryptogenic stroke (62.0 per thousand; 95% CI, 13.6–139.3 vs 9.6 per thousand; 95% CI, 4.0–17.3; p = 0.02) and those reporting cancer screening (39.2 per thousand; 95% CI, 16.4–70.6 vs 7.2 per thousand; 95% CI, 2.5–14.1; p = 0.003). Incidence of cancer after stroke was generally higher compared to people without stroke. Most cases were diagnosed within the first few months after stroke. Several predictors of cancer were identified, namely older age, smoking, and involvement of multiple vascular territories as well as elevated C-reactive protein and d-dimers. Conclusions The frequency of incident cancer after an ischemic stroke is low, but higher in cryptogenic stroke and after cancer screening. Several predictors may increase the yield of cancer screening after an ischemic stroke. The pooled incidence of post-stroke cancer is likely underestimated, and larger studies with systematic assessment of cancer after stroke are needed to produce more precise and valid estimates.

BackgroundThe benefit of acute carotid stenting compared with no acute stenting on clinical outcomes among patients with tandem lesions (TL) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) remains unknown.MethodsWe conducted a a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing acute carotid stenting versus no stenting among TL patients undergoing EVT with regards to 90 day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality. Four reviewers screened citations for eligibility and two assessed retained studies for risk of bias and data extraction. A random effects model was used for the synthesis of aggregated data.Results21 studies (n=1635 patients) were identified for the systematic review; 19 were cohort studies, 1 was a post-hoc analysis of an EVT trial, and 1 was a pilot randomized controlled trial. 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Acute stenting was associated with a favorable 90 day mRS score: OR 1.43 (95% CI 1.07, 1.91). No significant heterogeneity between studies was found for this outcome (I2=17.0%; χ2=18.07, p=0.26). There were no statistically significant differences for 3 month mortality (OR 0.80 (95% CI 0.50, 1.28)) or sICH (OR 1.41 (95% CI 0.91, 2.19)).ConclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests that among TL patients undergoing EVT, acute carotid stenting is associated with a greater likelihood of favorable outcome at 90 days compared with no stenting.