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Original ArticleOpen Access
The Period Prevalence of Catamenial Epilepsy at Prasat Neurological Institute, Bangkok
Towanabut S 
,
Chulavatnatol S ,
Suthisisang C ,
Wanakamanee U
,
Chulavatnatol S ,
Suthisisang C ,
Wanakamanee U The study was performed to assess the period prevalence of catamenial epilepsy in Thai
female epileptic patients. Such a condition is defined as seizures related to menstruation which
occur for at least 2 consecutive months within 1 patient during 4 days prior to and/or 6 days after
the onset of menstruation. Patients with regular menstruation aged between 15-50 years attending
the Out-Patient Department of Prasat Neurological Institute in Bangkok from I November, 1995
to 31 January, 1996 were recruited. Patients and/or their relatives were interviewed directly or by
telephone using a questionnaire concerning menstrual history, seizures related to menstruation and
they were requested to record these data for 2 further consecutive months. In cases where the
interview could not be directly performed, a mailed questionnaire was used instead. All information
was considered together with information reviewed from the OPD cards. Forty-six from 467
epileptic patients were considered to have catamenial epilepsy. The period prevalence thus was
98.5 in 1,000 women at risk and the mode of frequency of seizure occurrence was 2 days before
menstruation. Generalized seizure was found more common in these patients than partial
seizure. In particular, general tonic-clonic seizure and complex partial seizure were the most
common for each type, respectively. About 70 per cent of the patients used more than I anticonvulsant
drugs to control their seizures. Some have received other drug supplements to relieve
seizure exacerbation but only mild improvement was observed. No change in body weights
measured in 2 or 1 day before menstruation, on the first menstrual day and in 1 day after menstruation
was demonstrated in all patients. The results suggest that catamenial epilepsy is one
of the clinically significant problems of seizure control in Thai female epileptic palients and multifactors
may be involved in this condition.
female epileptic patients. Such a condition is defined as seizures related to menstruation which
occur for at least 2 consecutive months within 1 patient during 4 days prior to and/or 6 days after
the onset of menstruation. Patients with regular menstruation aged between 15-50 years attending
the Out-Patient Department of Prasat Neurological Institute in Bangkok from I November, 1995
to 31 January, 1996 were recruited. Patients and/or their relatives were interviewed directly or by
telephone using a questionnaire concerning menstrual history, seizures related to menstruation and
they were requested to record these data for 2 further consecutive months. In cases where the
interview could not be directly performed, a mailed questionnaire was used instead. All information
was considered together with information reviewed from the OPD cards. Forty-six from 467
epileptic patients were considered to have catamenial epilepsy. The period prevalence thus was
98.5 in 1,000 women at risk and the mode of frequency of seizure occurrence was 2 days before
menstruation. Generalized seizure was found more common in these patients than partial
seizure. In particular, general tonic-clonic seizure and complex partial seizure were the most
common for each type, respectively. About 70 per cent of the patients used more than I anticonvulsant
drugs to control their seizures. Some have received other drug supplements to relieve
seizure exacerbation but only mild improvement was observed. No change in body weights
measured in 2 or 1 day before menstruation, on the first menstrual day and in 1 day after menstruation
was demonstrated in all patients. The results suggest that catamenial epilepsy is one
of the clinically significant problems of seizure control in Thai female epileptic palients and multifactors
may be involved in this condition.
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