Stroke and epilepsy: Critical review of the literature part .2. Risk factors, pathophysiology and overlap syndromes

Many questions regarding the mechanisms underlying the development of seizures in cerebral stroke remain unanswered. However, the continued critical investigation of this important issue is likely to ultimately lead to a better understanding of early focal hyperexcitability after stroke and late epileptogenesis. Part II of this critical review continues to identify risk factors for seizures after stroke focussing on ischemic conditions with special regard to stroke distribution, predictive EEG patterns, pathophysiology and the somewhat confusing 'overlap syndromes' that may involve both vascular and ictal phenomena.