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Seizures in Multiple Sclerosis

Studying associations with lesions and GABA

Publish date:: January 5, 2016

Type I grey matter lesions (GMLs) in the temporal lobe underlie a loss of inhibitory interneurons in cortical layers IV and VI; these changes, together with concurrent infection, enhance susceptibility to seizures. This according to a study of 255 patients with MS. Researchers found:

• 37/255 patients had seizures; 47% of which were associated with concurrent infection.

• In patients with seizures, death and wheelchair use occurred earlier and in 59% seizures developed after 15 years of disease.

• Seizures were associated with type 1 GMLs and reduced cortical thickness in the middle temporal gyrus.

• Localized selective GABAergic interneuron loss in layers IV and VI was related to GMLs but was not explained by the presence of inflammation or by mitochondrial dysfunction with type 1 GMLs.

Citation: Nicholas R, Magliozzi R, Campbell G, Mahad D, Reynolds R. Temporal lobe cortical pathology and inhibitory GABA interneuron cell loss are associated with seizures in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. January 2016; 22(1): 25-35. doi:10.1177/1352458515579445.

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