Epilepsy as an initial factor of the clinical presentation of arteriovenous malformations of the brain - natural history and risk factors

Abstract

We present the results of treatment of 15 patients with brain arteriovenous malformation initially presented by epilepsy in Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade, in the period 2004-2010 year. Results: Most of the patients had a grand mall type of epilepsy, 14 of them, while one was present petit mall epilepsy. The attacks are manifested individually in 14, and in 1 case series. Response to treatment was good in 11 and 4 patients with refractory. In 26.7% of cases, seizures alternated with bleeding. Anatomical features of malformations did not show a significant difference in the predisposition to epilepsy treatment response . Conclusion: Good control of epilepsy by medication supports the view that there is no need for urgent surgical treatment of brain AVM so we can generally conclude that brain AVM in relation to a wide range of neurosurgical patients are in benign lesions, which requires patience and good workmanship and strategic therapeutic approach.