Symptomatic Cavernous Malformation Presenting with Seizure without Hemorrhage: Analysis of Factors Influencing Clinical Presentation

BACKGROUND: Supratentorial cavernous malformations (CMs) can be epileptogenic lesions. However, little is known about clinical comorbidities, medication use, and radiologic features that predict a first seizure presentation without associated CM hemorrhage.METHODS: We queried a prospective registry of consecutive patients with CM established in January 2015. Data regarding clinical presentation, comorbid conditions, daily medication use, and radiologic CM characteristics were collected. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed assessing variables for presentation with seizure without hemorrhage with P values, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals reported.RESULTS: Of 202 patients, 58.4% were women, and the average age at diagnosis was 43.7 +/- 16.5 years. Of the patients, 59.4% were symptomatic. In 40.6%, the CM was an incidental finding. Of the 30 patients who presented with a first-time seizure without concomitant hemorrhage, the mean age at diagnosis was 38.4 +/- 14.6 years, and 56.7% were women. Compared with incidental CM, patients with seizure without hemorrhage were younger, had a cortically based, supratentorial lesion, and were less likely to have chronic inflammatory disease or to use aspirin, vitamin D, or statin. Compared with other supratentorial lesions, patients with seizure without hemorrhage more commonly had a temporal lobe CM.CONCLUSIONS: These prospective data provide possible clues to radiologic factors, clinical comorbidities, and medication influences on seizure presentation in patients with CM. Further multicenter studies would be helpful to determine if disease-modifying agents in addition to epileptic medications or surgery might be helpful.