White Matter Hyperintensities on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in People with Epilepsy: A Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Aims: We aim to explore whether people with epilepsy have increased white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Methods: Eligible patients were categorized into newly diagnosed epilepsy (NE) and chronic epilepsy (CE); the latter were subdivided to those treated with enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) with or without non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (NEIAEDs) and those with NEIAEDs only. WMHs were measured using age-related white matter changes (ARWMC) scale and compared between patients and healthy control group. Higher scores indicate greater WMH changes. The strengths of associations were estimated as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A tot..