The Temporal Relation Between Seizure Onset And Arousal-Awakening In Temporal Lobe Seizures

Abstract

Purpose: Our main aim was to determine the time interval between the seizure onsets and arousal awakening related to these seizures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and to discuss the role of lateralization on arousal-awakening mechanisms. Methods: Thirty-three TLE patients who underwent video-EEG monitoring with simultaneous polysomnography (PSG) and had recorded nocturnal seizures were retrospectively examined. These TLE patients had 64 seizures during sleep. The onsets of seizures and arousal-awakening related to these seizures were marked according to clinical and electrophysiological features. The time interval between the seizure onset and arousal-awakening related to the seizure was compared in patients with right- or left-sided temporal lobe seizures. Results: In our TLE patients nocturnal seizures mostly followed arousal-awakening (64%). The time interval between the seizure onset and arousal-awakening related to the seizure was significantly shorter in patients with left-sided temporal lobe seizures (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Video-EEG monitoring and PSG with scalp electrodes in our TLE patients showed that nocturnal seizures mostly followed arousal-awakening, and it was more pronounced in those with left: sided seizures. Arousal-awakening might be a signal for subsequent seizures in patients with TLE. (C) 2016 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.