Neuroimaging alterations related to status epilepticus in an adult population: Definition of MRI findings and clinical-EEG correlation

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an opportunity for identifying peri-ictal MRI abnormalities (PMAs) related to status epilepticus (SE). Extremely variable MRI alterations have been reported previously during or after SE, mainly in small selected populations. In a retrospective monocentric study, we analyzed brain MRI changes observed in the ictal/postictal periods of SE in an adult population. We included all consecutive patients observed in a 5-year period with an electroclinical diagnosis of SE and an MRI performed within 30 days from the beginning of SE. We identified 277 patients. Among them, 32 (12%) showed PMAs related to SE. The duration of SE was strongly associated with MRI alterations, showing a mean duration of 6 days vs 2 days (P =.011) in the group with and without MRI alterations, respectively. Focal electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities (P =.00003) and in particular, lateralized periodic discharges (LPDs) (P