Background
The relation between epileptic
seizures and vaccinations is sometimes debated. In the present work, the impact of vaccination on seizure onset and clinical outcome of
SCN1A mutation-positive patients is addressed.
Methods
Seventy-two patients diagnosed with Dravet syndrome or generalized epilepsy with febrile seizure plus, carrying SCN1A mutations or not, were included. Details on vaccination type, temporal relationship between vaccination and seizure occurrence, seizure type at onset and during development, cognitive functioning, and vaccination completion was obtained by reviewing clinical records. Patients were divided into two groups based on the temporal window between vaccination and seizure onset (proximate group: <48聽hours; distant group: >48聽hours).
Results
Vaccination-related seizures occurred in 25% of patients with SCN1A mutation and 18% of patients without the mutation (no significant difference). The proximate group showed an earlier age at seizure onset and a higher frequency of status epilepticus during development than did the distant group. No other significant differences were found. Subsequent vaccinations did not significantly alter the evolution of the disease.
Conclusions
Results from this relatively small series provide evidence that vaccinations do not significantly affect clinical and cognitive evolution of Dravet syndrome and generalized epilepsy with febrile seizure plus聽patients even if they carry SCN1A mutations.
