Association between multiple sclerosis and epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kuntz, Stephanie; Wu, Annie Siyu; Matheson, Emilie; Vyas, Ishani; Vyas, Manav V.

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2022.104421

Cited by 5 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Recent epidemiological studies have shown that epilepsy occurs in approximately 3% of MS patients [6,7]. A comparison to the general population and to some other patients is depicted in Figure 1 [12,17].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kavčič A scibasejournals.org they could not demonstrate that seizures in MS happen purely by chance [5]. The seizure generation and epileptogenesis in MS are still poorly understood [7]. During an MS relapse, epileptic seizures do not usually occur [8].…”

Section: Scibase Neurologymentioning

confidence: 94%

“…It is certain that MS bears a risk factor for seizures because (1) seizure occurrence is considerably higher in MS patients than in the general population [7], and (2) structural brain abnormalities existing in every MS patient usually accumulate over the course of MS [18]. If MS is an autoimmune disease, autoimmunity must be considered a possible cause of seizures as well [19].…”

Section: Possible Causes Of Seizures In Msmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The infrequency of seizures in MS patients proves that in MS, the regulation of neuronal excitability is mainly preserved [7,33]. Proconvulsive effects of MS are, in most cases-due to the brain´s protective mechanisms-successfully counteracted.…”

Section: Resilience To Seizures In Msmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At that time (i.e., in the second half of the 19 th century), the occurrence of seizures in MS patients was observational evidence that, due to a lack of understanding of both MS and seizure dis-orders, could not evoke a debate on the causation of seizures in MS. Since then, a mounting number of epidemiological studies have shown an increased frequency of epilepsy in MS patients compared with the general population [3,7]. Some researchers have tried to prove the opposite by intensive searching for competing causes of seizures in MS patients [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seizures in Multiple Sclerosis are, above all, a Matter of Brain Viability

Kavčič,

E Hofmann

2024

SciBase Neurol

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Objectives: Most patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) never have a seizure, although they are at risk for seizures since the onset of MS. This paradox leads us to suppose that MS plays a minor role in seizure generation and epileptogenesis. Methods: Qualitative study using data triangulation and inductive content analysis. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar). Results: In MS patients, unprovoked seizures occur rarely (in about 3 percent of cases). Pediatric MS involves seizures more common than adult or late-onset MS. In general, children with seizures do not have poorer MS prognoses than children without seizures. Contrary to the general population, seizures do not peak in older MS patients. Since the use of disease-modifying therapies in the treatment of MS (i.e., since 1993), the frequency of seizures in MS patients has not changed considerably. Epilepsy syndrome cannot be recognized in MS patients with seizures. As a rule, seizures in MS are not difficult to treat. A sudden unexpected death in MS patients with seizures has not been observed more commonly than in the general epilepsy population. A disruption of the blood–brain barrier is the most obvious proconvulsive factor of MS. However, neither MS relapses nor a high rate of MS relapses is normally accompanied by seizures. Structural brain abnormalities usually accumulate over the course of MS. However, a high brain magnetic resonance imaging lesion load does not have a substantial impact on seizure occurrence in MS. Conclusion: MS does not have a major role in seizure generation and epileptogenesis. In most cases, the seizure-promoting effects of MS can be successfully counteracted by the brain´s protective mechanisms.

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