Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy: A prediction cohort study on sleep/awake patterns of seizures

Epilepsia. 2019 Nov;60(11):e115-e120. doi: 10.1111/epi.16369. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Abstract

Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE) is characterized by hyperkinetic seizures arising from sleep. Awake seizures occasionally occur and are associated with a worse prognosis, with important implications for driving and quality of life. We evaluated the clinical features and sleep/wakefulness distribution of seizures at onset and lifelong in a large cohort of clinical/confirmed SHE. Chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify predictors of awake seizures lifelong (primary endpoint). Positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR+, LR-) were calculated. We included 165 patients (male/female: 105/60) with a 27.6-year median follow-up. Most (67.9%) presented with seizures exclusively from sleep; 32.1% presented with seizures both while asleep and while awake, or exclusively during wakefulness. Presentation with seizures in wakefulness shows a sensitivity of 62.5% and a specificity of 96.5% to predict the occurrence of awake seizures lifelong, with an LR + of 18 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.75-55) and LR- of 0.39 (95% CI = 0.29-0.52). On multivariate analysis, distribution of sleep/awake seizures at onset was confirmed as an independent risk factor of awake seizures lifelong (odds ratio = 56.7). Patients presenting with awake seizures have a 94% probability of awake seizures lifelong, whereas in those presenting with asleep seizures only, the percentage lowers to 27%. This aspect should be mentioned during physician-to-patient communication about prognosis.

Keywords: driver's license; evolution patterns; nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy; sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy; sleep/wakefulness distribution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • Epilepsy, Reflex / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy, Reflex / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seizures / diagnosis*
  • Seizures / physiopathology*
  • Sleep / physiology*
  • Wakefulness / physiology*
  • Young Adult