This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Background: It is unclear which factors lead to progressive neuronal damage in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether progressive hippocampal and extrahippocampal atrophy occur in patients with MTLE and whether this atrophy is related to seizures.
Method: We performed 2 MRI scans in 33 patients with clinical and electroencephalographic diagnosis of MTLE and in 24 healthy controls. MRI was performed in a 2-T scanner, and a T1-weighted gradient-echo sequence with 1 mm thickness was used for voxel-based morphometry analysis. Follow-up images were obtained at least 7 months after the first baseline MRI. Comparisons between the patient’s follow-up and baseline MRIs, and between patients and controls, were performed. A corrected p value of 0.05 was set as the threshold for the statistical analysis.
Results: Follow-up MRI was performed after a median interval of 39 months (range 7–85 months). Three patients were seizure-free between the first and second MRIs. We observed progressive white and gray matter atrophy (p < 0.05) in patients with MTLE. This progression was more intense in patients with left MTLE compared with right MTLE. A higher frequency of seizures and a longer duration of epilepsy were associated with progression of gray and white matter atrophy in patients with MTLE.
Conclusion: The progression of white and gray matter atrophy in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) was more intense in patients with left MTLE and was associated with poorer seizure control and a longer duration of epilepsy.
Glossary
- ANCOVA=
- analysis of covariance;
- DICOM=
- Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine;
- FH=
- family history;
- FS=
- febrile seizure;
- GTCS=
- generalized tonic-clonic seizure;
- HA=
- hippocampal atrophy;
- HS=
- hippocampal sclerosis;
- IGK=
- isotropic gaussian kernel;
- IPI=
- initial precipitating injury;
- MNI=
- Montreal Neurological Institute;
- MTLE=
- mesial temporal lobe epilepsy;
- SE=
- status epilepticus;
- TE=
- echo time;
- TR=
- repetition time;
- VBM=
- voxel-based morphometry.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Disputes & Debates: Rapid online correspondence
NOTE: All authors' disclosures must be entered and current in our database before comments can be posted. Enter and update disclosures at http://submit.neurology.org. Exception: replies to comments concerning an article you originally authored do not require updated disclosures.
- Stay timely. Submit only on articles published within the last 8 weeks.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- 200 words maximum.
- 5 references maximum. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- 5 authors maximum. Exception: replies can include all original authors of the article.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.