Poststroke Epilepsy Risk Varies With Antihypertensive Treatment

TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) — For patients with hypertension and ischemic stroke, the risk for poststroke epilepsy (PSE) varies according to antihypertensive treatment, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, held from Dec. 6 to 10 in Los Angeles.

Giacomo Evangelista, M.D., Ph.D., from the “G. d”Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara in Italy, and colleagues examined the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment in preventing PSE in a retrospective, observational study. Patients with hypertension and diagnosis of ischemic stroke were retrospectively selected; all participants were followed up for PSE at a mean of 66 months.

The researchers found that 38 of the 528 patients (7.2 percent) developed PSE. The risk for PSE development was higher in association with anterior cerebral artery involvement and cortico-sottocortical lesions. The risk for PSE was lower in patients treated with angiotensin receptor blockers, while incidence was higher for those receiving calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers. No differences were seen for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use.

“These findings highlight the importance of personalized medicine, particularly in managing blood pressure in stroke patients,” co-lead author Fedele Dono, M.D., also from G. d”Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, said in a statement. “Further research in more patients is necessary to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms in more detail.”

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