Stroke Trials Registry

Akershus Stroke Study

PI Address
Morten I. Lossius, M.D.
National Centre for Epilepsy
P.O. Box 53
1306 Bærum postterminal, Norway

Contact Email
morten.lossius@epilepsy.no

Study Size Actual:	484
Centers Actual:	1
Max Time from onset:	7 Days
Min Age:	60
Follow-up Duration:	8 Years

Status:
Trial complete. Results published in August of 2005.

Purpose:
To identify predictors, assess the occurrence of poststroke epilepsy (PSE) in patients with ischemic strokes, and to investigate whether treatment in a stroke unit (SU) influenced the long-term outcomes of epilepsy.

Location(s):
Norway

Year Started: 1994

Year Finished: 1995

Year Published: 2005

Design:
Single-center, randomized, prospective study.

Inclusion Criteria
Patients aged 60 years and older, within 24 hours of an ischemic stroke onset (stroke was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria), between March 1, 1994, and December 31, 1995, having PSE, defined as those having two or more unprovoked epileptic seizures ≥1 week after an ischemic stroke.

Exclusion Criteria
Patients with hemorrhagic strokes were excluded from the study.

Patient Involvement:
Patients were randomized by date of birth. Those born on dates 1–15 were allocated to treatment in stroke units (SUs), and those born on dates 16–31 were allocated to treatment in general medical wards (GMWs). The patients in SUs were treated according to principles for acute stroke treatment in organized stroke units, and the patients in GMWs were given traditional medical treatment without special or structural efforts toward this patient group.

Primary Outcome:
The primary outcome of this study was poststroke epilepsy (PSE), defined as two or more unprovoked epileptic seizures occurring at ≥1 week after the ischemic stroke, according to the Guidelines developed by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).

Secondary Outcome:
For clinical assessment of neurologic impairment, the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) was used; at hospital admission, the next day, the fourth or fifth day, and after seven months (±1 month).

Results:
PSE developed in 12 (2.5%) patients during the first year. The prevalence of PSE, 7 to 8 years after an ischemic stroke, was 3.1%, with a SSS score <30 on admission being a significant predictor for PSE (p = 0.004). Neither treatment in SU versus GMW, cortical location, nor age at onset of stroke seemed to influence the risk of developing PSE.

Source of Information:
Epilepsia. 2005 Aug;46(8):1246-51.

Web Links and Publications:

Poststroke epilepsy: occurrence and predictors--a long-term prospective controlled study (Akershus Stroke Study).
Epilepsia. 2005 Aug;46(8):1246-51.

This information last updated on: 9/8/2005

UID: 639