American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting Epilepsy Associated With Systemic Autoimmune Diseases December 5, 2010 Orrin Devinsky, M.D. NYU Langone School of Medicine New York, NY
Epilepsy Associated With Systemic
Autoimmune Diseases
December 5, 2010
New York, NY
Disclosure
Systemic lupus erythamatosus Sjogren’s syndrome
Wegener’s granulomatosis & polyarteritis nodosa
Crohn’s disease Sarcoidosis Behçet’s
Hashimoto’s encephalopathy CNS disorders
Primary angiitis of the CNS
Multiple sclerosis
Mechanisms of Seizures in SystemicMechanisms of Seizures in Systemic
Autoimmune DisordersAutoimmune Disorders
Vascular disease
Plateletfibrin thrombi (e.g., TTP) Anticardiolipin
antibody & prothrombotic state Emboli
Vasculitis
Antineuronal antibodies Immune complexes Cytokines
Metabolic disorders Infection Therapy Coincidence
SLE: SeizuresSLE: Seizures
Seizure or psychosis –among 11 primary Dx
features
Increase mortality (also nephritis & low plts), poor
outcome in kids
(Andrade et al, 2008; Ward et al, 1995)
Seizures 7 40% of pts (~15%),
Often symptomatic –disease flares; autoantibodies,
uremia, hypertension, CNS infection, stroke, at SLE
onset, antiphospholipid Abs (Appenzeller
et al, Neurology, 2004)
Hypertension & posterior reversible encephalopathy
syndrome:
Altered mental status, headache, visual changes,
seizures, posterior leukoencephalopathy
Status epilepticus may herald death
(West et al, Rheum Dis Clin
North Am, 1994)
SLE:SLE: AntiphospholipidAntiphospholipid AntibodiesAntibodies
Elevated in most studies of seizures/epilepsy
Seizures, stroke & HA –associated with elevated
antiphospholipid Ab (Bertolaccini
et al, J Rheum, 2003)
Cause vascular disease
leading to seizures, also… neuropathogenic in vitro
(Cimaz et al, Lupus, 2006)
Autoantibodies in epilepsy (Ranua
et al, Epilepsy Res, 2004)
IgG anticardiolipin
in 4.5% of ~1000 epilepsy patients but no
different than controls, but…
patients with chronic epilepsy
and increased Sz frequency
elevated elevated aCL
? Cause or effect
AEDs can induce lupus anticoagulant
SLE: Causes of SeizuresSLE: Causes of Seizures
CSF antineuronal
Abs increased in 90% of pts with
psychosis, encephalopathy, or seizures v. 11%
without CNS disease; 25% of pts with stroke or
movement disorder
(Bluestein et al, Am J Med, 1981)
CSF (not serum) NMDA receptor subunit NR2 Abs
correlate with neuropsychiatric Sxs
(eg, seizures) (Arinuma
et al, Arthritis Rheum, 2008; Kozora
et al,J Neurol Sci, 2010)
Antiribosomal
P protein elevated with CNS disease,
including psychosis and seizures
(Yoshio et al, J Rheum, 2005)
Risk of seizures reduced by antiLa Ab
and antimalarials
(Andrade et al, J Rheum, 2008; Malik
et al, Lupus, 2007)
SLE: EpilepsySLE: Epilepsy
Risk factors for seizure recurrence
Overall –1255% recur
Recurrence usually within 1 year of initial Sz
Partial seizures >80% recurred
Epilepsy in SLE: (Mikdashi
et al, Neurology, 2005)
higher disease activity at baseline
prior neuropsychiatric SLE disease (esp
psychosis) anticardiolipin
& antiSmith antibodies
Linkage analysis locus on chrom 15
development of seizures in SLE
(Bautista, et al, Epilepsia, 2008)
SLE: MitralSLE: Mitral ValvulitisValvulitis
& Thrombotic& Thrombotic
ThrombocytopenicThrombocytopenic PurpuraPurpura
50 consecutive autopsies
(Devinsky et al, Ann Neurol, 1988)
No active vasculitis, 2 with evidence of healed
vasculitis; dx’d in 17 cases (34%)
Mitral valvulitis
in 23 (46%), 9 with cerebral emboli
TTP in 14 (28%) during final terminal illness (2 mos)
TTP diagnosis: four of five
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Thrombocytopenic purpura Renal dysfunction
Neurologic disorder Fever
Pediatric SLEPediatric SLE
Seizures reported in 1040% of cases
Neuropsychiatric disorders in 35%
(Yu et al, Lupus, 2006)
Mortality decreased from 52% (‘85’95) to 28% (‘95
to ‘05); still the leading cause of death
Higher C3/C4 & anticardiolipin Abs
Stroke 28% Psychosis 22% Seizures in 85%
(Yu et al, 2006)
Generalized in 80% Recurred in 63%
Sjogren’sSjogren’s SyndromeSyndrome
Inflammation & destruction of lacrymal and
salivary glands +/ visceral/vasculitic involvement
Often associated with other autoimmune
disorder (SLE, RA, scleroderma)
Neurologic disorders in ~2025%, PNS = CNS
HA, neuropathy & cognitive dysfunction
Seizures in 3% of all SS pts), both partial &
generalized Often mimic stroke & MS
Wegener’sWegener’s GranulomatosisGranulomatosis
Necrotizing, granulomatous vasculitis of
lungs & kidneys Vasculitis
affects medium and small arteries
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody
(ANCA) is often positive in necrotizing
vasculitides Neurologic disorders
PNS –often vasculitis
CNS –often granulomatous; often from E
NT tract & refractory
Vasculitis, reversible posterior leukoenceph
NeurosarcoidosisNeurosarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis –multiorgan noncaseating granulomatous
disorder, oligoclonal CD4(+) T
cell infiltrates, and immune complexes
Neuropath in 1015%, often asymptomatic
Neurologic symptoms ~5%
often within 2 years of presentation
variable blood and CSF ACE levels
1/50 isolated nervous system disease
NeurosarcoidosisNeurosarcoidosis DDx
–MS, ADEM, infection, tumor (eg,
lymphoma), vasculitis Neuro Sxs
CN palsies –5080% Parenchymal lesions –50%
Enhancing lesions respond to steroids > nonenhancing
lesions (Shah et al, Am J Neurorad, 2009)
Seizures –~10% in adults, 35% in children
(Baumann & Robertson, Pediatrics, 2003)
Seizures
Often mark severe, relapsing, and progressing disease; can
resolve or easily controlled
SGTCS and partial seizures
If inflammation not controlled, often refractory to AEDs
Celiac DiseaseCeliac Disease
Neuropathy, ataxia, dementia and
seizure disorder –all uncommon
Malnutrition uncertain; ? Vitamin E helps
Antiendomysial & antigliadin Abs variable
Among 800 CD pts, 21 with seizures
(2.6%), 9 with active epilepsy (1.1%)
Rarely, CD and refractory epilepsy
improve with glutenfree diet
(Canales et al, Neurologist, 2006)
Celiac DiseaseCeliac Disease
CD, occipital epilepsy and cerebral
calcifications syndrome mostly from
Italy, Spain, and Argentina (Gobbi, Brain
Dev, 2005)
75 children with Bx proven CD, bilateral
T2 WM lesions on MRI in 20%
No correlation of MRI with seizures (6
children; febrile 3, single TCS –2;
absence –1)(Kieslich et al, Pediatrics, 2001)
Crohn’sCrohn’s DiseaseDisease
Seizures
~6%(Elshety, South Med J 1997; Hussain
& Ahmed, Pak J Neurol Sci, 2006)
Mainly TCS, some with SPS and CPS
MRI usually normal
EEGs –normal, or temporal or less often generalized
discharges Epilepsy ~46%
seizures with exacerbation, no long
term AEDs
Stroke in ~57%, usually unrelated to seizures
Behçet’sBehçet’s DiseaseDisease
~25% of Europeans with neuroBehçets
(Joseph & Scolding,
Eur
J Neurol, 2007); stroke in ~5%, usually unrelated to Sz
Mainly TCS, some with SPS and CPS
EPC may occur MRI usually normal
2050% of seizures only during exacerbation, no long
term AEDs (Aykutlu et al,Epilepsia, 2002)
Hashimoto’s EncephalopathyHashimoto’s Encephalopathy
Subacute, relapsingremitting course
TCS & myoclonus Strokelike episodes
Psychiatric disorders, agitation
Cognitive decline
Autoimmune disorder Steroid responsive Antithryoid
& antineuronal Abs) Perivascular &parenchymal
inflammatory infiltrates
(Olde et al, J Neurol Sci, 2004; Schiess
& Pardo, Ann NY Acad Sci
2004; Mayer & Devinsky, Rev Neurol
Dis, 2006)
Treatment of Seizures in SystemicTreatment of Seizures in Systemic
Autoimmune DisordersAutoimmune Disorders
Identify symptomatic causes (eg, metabolic, vascular &
infection), ? standard AEDs
AEDs –partial v. generalized epilepsies
Immunomodulatory therapies –challenging balance
Steroids –antiinflammatory, immunosuppressive
Cytostatics
Alkylating (eg, cyclophosphamide)
Antimetabolics (eg, methotrexate, azothiaprine)
IVIG & Plasmapheresis Antibodies –mono
& polyclonal
Immunophilins –cyclosporine, tacrolimus Interferons
TNFalpha
ConclusionsConclusions
Seizures often complication systemic
autoimmune disorders (SAD)
Infrequently presenting feature of SAD
Examine for skin lesions, oral ulcers, iritis,
pulmonary, renal symptoms, etc
Consider ESR, CRP, ANA, ACE, ACNA
In sick SLE patient, look at the blood smear