Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37823698›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of neurology2024

Long-term outcome of alcohol withdrawal seizures.

Giulio Sansone, Pierre Megevand, Serge Vulliémoz, Maurizio Corbetta, Fabienne Picard, Margitta Seeck

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Guideline
  2. Pooled it
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  4. Review
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  6. Long-term outcome of alcohol withdrawal seizures.European journal of neurology · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Giulio SansoneDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Geneva & Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-3685-7108
Pierre MegevandDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Geneva & Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Serge VulliémozDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Geneva & Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Maurizio CorbettaDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Fabienne PicardDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Geneva & Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Margitta SeeckDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital of Geneva & Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
University Hospital of Geneva · CHUniversity of Padua · IT

Funding

Swiss National Science Foundation 180365Swiss National Science Foundation 192749Swiss National Science Foundation 194507Swiss National Science Foundation 209470
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background and purposeAlcohol withdrawal seizures (AWS) are a well-known complication of chronic alcohol abuse, but there is currently little knowledge of their long-term relapse rate and prognosis. The aims of this study were to identify risk factors for AWS recurrence and to study the overall outcome of patients after AWS.

methodsIn this retrospective single-center study, we included patients who were admitted to the Emergency Department after an AWS between January 1, 2013 and August 10, 2021 and for whom an electroencephalogram (EEG) was requested. AWS relapses up until April 29, 2022 were researched. We compared history, treatment with benzodiazepines or antiseizure medications (ASMs), laboratory, EEG and computed tomography findings between patients with AWS relapse (r-AWS) and patients with no AWS relapse (nr-AWS).

resultsA total of 199 patients were enrolled (mean age 53 ± 12 years; 78.9% men). AWS relapses occurred in 11% of patients, after a median time of 470.5 days. Brain computed tomography (n = 182) showed pathological findings in 35.7%. Risk factors for relapses were history of previous AWS (p = 0.013), skull fractures (p = 0.004) at the index AWS, and possibly epileptiform EEG abnormalities (p = 0.07). Benzodiazepines or other ASMs, taken before or after the index event, did not differ between the r-AWS and the nr-AWS group. The mortality rate was 2.9%/year of follow-up, which was 13 times higher compared to the general population. Risk factors for death were history of AWS (p < 0.001) and encephalopathic EEG (p = 0.043).

conclusionsDelayed AWS relapses occur in 11% of patients and are associated with risk factors (previous AWS >24 h apart, skull fractures, and pathological EEG findings) that also increase the epilepsy risk, that is, predisposition for seizures, if not treated. Future prospective studies are mandatory to determine appropriate long-term diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, in order to reduce the risk of relapse and mortality associated with AWS.

Indexed as

AlcoholismAlcohol Withdrawal SeizuresSkull FracturesSubstance Withdrawal SyndromeAdultAgedBenzodiazepinesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRecurrenceRetrospective StudiesBenzodiazepinesalcohol-withdrawal seizuresEEGhead traumamortalityrisk factors

Identifiers

PMID37823698
PMCPMC11235997
OpenAlexW4387564439

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.