Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in patients with seizures: Descriptive characteristics

We reviewed the records of all patients with recurrent seizures and severe head injury-induced traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (TIH) between 1989 and 2003 in three Israeli medical centers. We identified 52 cases (44 males, mean age = 43 ± 19 years, range = 8–84; 8 females; mean age = 74 ± 12 years, range = 48–85). Twenty-seven (52%) had additional known risk factors for TIH, e.g., older age, alcohol abuse, and anticoagulant use. All five children and adolescents had mental retardation. Approximately one-half of patients with seizures and TIH have additional risk factors for TIH. Non-mentally retarded children and adolescents with seizures are probably at low risk of developing TIH. Women less than 70 years old with seizures are much less prone to TIH than men. In young “otherwise healthy” patients with epilepsy, suboptimal treatment seems to be an important factor in the occurrence of TIH.