SPECT-DTPA as a tool for evaluating the blood-brain barrier in post-stroke seizures

J Neurol. 2012 Oct;259(10):2041-4. doi: 10.1007/s00415-012-6445-2. Epub 2012 Feb 10.

Abstract

Stroke is a well-known cause for seizures in the adult population. Research in animal models indicates that abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability can play a role in the development of spontaneous seizures or status epilepticus. The integrity of the BBB was investigated in patients with late post-stroke seizures by performing DTPA-SPECT studies to evaluate the correlation of BBB dysfunction in late post-stroke seizures. All patients with late-onset post-cortical stroke seizures hospitalized during 2009-2010 underwent a brain DTPA-SPECT within 72 h of the first seizure and were compared to a control group of stroke patients without seizures. Twenty-eight patients were included in the study. Twelve out of 14 (85.7%) in the group of seizure post-stroke patients had a positive brain DTPA-SPECT showing disruption of the BBB in the region of the stroke respective to four patients out of 14 (28.6%) in the control group of stroke patients without seizures (p = 0.001). The results of this study suggest that there is a correlation between late post-stroke seizures and BBB disruption, as revealed by DTPA-SPECT examination. Perhaps, this finding could lead to the hypothesis that the BBB disruption can predict developing seizures in patients with cortical stroke.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / diagnostic imaging*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Seizures / diagnostic imaging*
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Seizures / pathology
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging*
  • Stroke / pathology
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate