High Rate of Posttraumatic Epilepsy Is Expected in Iraq War Veterans

Treating TBI-Induced Epilepsy
Commonly used therapies for epilepsy can be effective against TBI-induced epilepsy in some but not all patients, according to Dr. Lowenstein. So far, he said, there have been no well-controlled trials to compare specific treatment strategies to determine whether one antiepileptic drug or one class of drugs is superior to another in controlling TBI-induced epilepsy, but there is evidence that effective treatment in the acute phase of TBI-induced epilepsy can reduce the risk of death or disability.

As a significant cause of epilepsy even outside the confines of war, TBI is a reasonable target for additional study, commented Dr. Lowenstein. However, the urgency to identify effective prophylaxis has been increased by the Iraq War. The high risk for TBI-induced epilepsy is remarkably consistent when the rates in World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War are compared, and there is no reason to believe the current conflict will be any  different, he said.

“The data on the rate of epilepsy among soldiers returning from Iraq are not very reliable, so we really do not know how many cases there are so far. However, based on what we know of TBI, we expect the rate to be substantial,” Dr. Lowenstein concluded.