"Clinical features and surgical treatment of epilepsy after viral encep" by Yiou Liu and Wenjing Zhou

Article Title

Clinical features and surgical treatment of epilepsy after viral encephalitis

Authors

Yiou Liu, Department of Epilepsy Center, Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital, Beijing 100040, China
Wenjing Zhou, Department of Epilepsy Center, Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital, Beijing 100040, China

Keywords

encephalitis, epilepsy, treatment

Abstract

Encephalitis is an acute inflammatory process of the brain parenchyma, which is often caused by viral infection. It is an vital cause of acute symptomatic seizures and subsequent epilepsy. The incidence of unprovoked and recurrent seizures after previous infections of the central nervous system is high and accounts for 1%~5% of the cases of epilepsy. Viral encephalitis (VE) is directly caused by viral infection. The occurrence of seizures after VE is associated with poor prognosis. In survivors of VE, among other neurological sequelae, the risk of developing epilepsy is increased 10-fold. The risk of severe neurological sequelae after VE is particularly high in very young children. Studies on seizure occurrence, possible underlying mechanisms, clinical characteristics, and clinical treatment (especially surgical treatment) of VE have yielded only limited detailed data. We reviewed the most recent literature on the clinical features and surgical treatment of post-VE epilepsy.