TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 vaccination-related exacerbation of seizures in persons with epilepsy
AU - Pang, E. W.
AU - Lawn, N. D.
AU - Chan, J.
AU - Lee, J.
AU - Dunne, J. W.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - Although vaccines are generally safe in persons with epilepsy (PWE), seizures can be associated with vac-cination, including COVID-19. This study assessed the occurrence of COVID-19 vaccination-related sei-zure exacerbations in PWE.Adult PWE who had received a COVID-19 vaccine were consecutively recruited at a tertiary epilepsy clinic between June 2021 and April 2022. Patient demographics, including epilepsy history, vaccination details, and reported adverse effects were recorded. Seizure exacerbation, defined as occurring within one week of vaccination, was assessed.Five hundred and thirty PWE received the COVID-19 vaccine. 75 % received the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vac-cine as their initial dose. Most patients (72 %) were taking >= 2 antiseizure medications (ASM) and had focal epilepsy (73 %). One-third were 12 months seizure free at their first vaccination. 13 patients (2.5 %) reported a seizure exacerbation following their first vaccination, three of whom required admis-sion. None were seizure-free at baseline. Six of these patients (46 %) had a further exacerbation of sei-zures with their second vaccine. An additional four patients reported increased seizures only with the second vaccine dose.Seizure exacerbations are infrequently associated with COVID-19 vaccination, mainly in patients with ongoing seizures. The likelihood of COVID-19 infection complications in PWE outweighs the risk of vaccination-related seizure exacerbations.(c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
AB - Although vaccines are generally safe in persons with epilepsy (PWE), seizures can be associated with vac-cination, including COVID-19. This study assessed the occurrence of COVID-19 vaccination-related sei-zure exacerbations in PWE.Adult PWE who had received a COVID-19 vaccine were consecutively recruited at a tertiary epilepsy clinic between June 2021 and April 2022. Patient demographics, including epilepsy history, vaccination details, and reported adverse effects were recorded. Seizure exacerbation, defined as occurring within one week of vaccination, was assessed.Five hundred and thirty PWE received the COVID-19 vaccine. 75 % received the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vac-cine as their initial dose. Most patients (72 %) were taking >= 2 antiseizure medications (ASM) and had focal epilepsy (73 %). One-third were 12 months seizure free at their first vaccination. 13 patients (2.5 %) reported a seizure exacerbation following their first vaccination, three of whom required admis-sion. None were seizure-free at baseline. Six of these patients (46 %) had a further exacerbation of sei-zures with their second vaccine. An additional four patients reported increased seizures only with the second vaccine dose.Seizure exacerbations are infrequently associated with COVID-19 vaccination, mainly in patients with ongoing seizures. The likelihood of COVID-19 infection complications in PWE outweighs the risk of vaccination-related seizure exacerbations.(c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KW - Covid-19
KW - Epilepsy
KW - Seizure exacerbation
KW - Vaccination
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=uwapure5-25&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:000917290000012&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS
U2 - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.109024
DO - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.109024
M3 - Conference article
C2 - 36495798
SN - 1525-5050
VL - 138
JO - Epilepsy and Behavior
JF - Epilepsy and Behavior
M1 - 109024
T2 - Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists
Y2 - 10 May 2022 through 13 May 2022
ER -
