MRI volumetry of the hippocampus, amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and perirhinal cortex after status epilepticus

Neuronal damage has been observed in the medial temporal lobe of both human s and animals following status epilepticus. The aim of the present study wa s to investigate the occurrence of medial temporal lobe damage in status ep ilepticus patients treated in hospital with a predetermined protocol and to assess whether the changes progress in a long-term follow-up. The volumes of the hippocampus, amygdala, entorhinal and perirhinal cortices were measu red using magnetic resonance imaging (MRT) in nine adult patients with stat us epilepticus 3 weeks, 6 and 12 months after the insult. The control group included 20 healthy subjects. The etiology of status epilepticus was an ac ute process in one patient and a chronic process in right cases. The mean d uration of secondarily generalized tonic-clonic status epilepticus episodes was 1 h and 44 min. Volumetric MRI indicated that none of the patients dev eloped marked volume reduction in the hippocampus, amygdala, ol the entorhi nal and perirhinal cortices during the I-year follow-up period. Status epil epticus does not invariably lead to a progressive volume reduction in the m edial temporal lobe structures of adult patients treated promptly in hospit al with a predetermined protocol for rapid cessation of seizure activity. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.