Background: An aura is usually considered to be the initial clinical sign of a seizure. The types of abnormal neuron activities (i.e., localized and generalized firing) play an important role in the diagnosis of epilepsy. The goal of this study was to investigate the types of auras and its correlation with the localization and treatment of epilepsy.
Methods: The 426 epileptic patients with auras from a single center were reviewed with reference to International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE, 1981) classification; the clinical manifestations and incidence of auras were analyzed in this retrospective study, as well as the results of electroencephalogram (EEG), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the treatment methods.
Results: Among the 426 epileptic patients, six different types of auras were defined, including autonomic auras, sensory auras, mental and affective auras, aura as vertigo, cognitive auras, and unspeakable feelings. Duration of auras ranged from 2 s to 7 min; the median duration of auras was 64.2 s. Abnormal EEG was observed in 297 (69.72%) patients. Moreover, abnormal brain MRI was observed in 125 (29.34%) patients. Nineteen (4.46%) epilepsy patients with auras underwent both surgeries and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) while others were treated only with AEDs.
Conclusions: This study suggested that auras played an important role in the diagnosis, classification, and localization of epilepsy. Epileptic aura could help differentiate partial seizure from generalized seizure.