Seizure Incidence Rates in Children and Adults With Familial Cerebral Cavernous Malformations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Seizure incidence rates related to familial cerebral cavernous malformation (FCCM) are not well described, especially for children. To measure the seizure incidence rate, examine seizure predictors, and characterize epilepsy severity, we studied a cohort of children and adults with FCCM enrolled in the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium (BVMC). METHODS: Seizure data were collected from participants with FCCM in the BVMC at enrollment and during follow-up. We estimated seizure probability by age and tested whether cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) counts or genotype were associated with earlier seizure onset. RESULTS: mutation also increased risk compared to other mutations (HR 3.11, 95% CI 1.15-8.45). Individuals with a seizure prior to enrollment had increased hospitalization rates during follow-up (incidence rate ratio 10.9, 95% CI 2.41-49.32) compared to patients without a seizure history. DISCUSSION: genotype are at greater risk. Seizures increase health care utilization in FCCM.