Background: Predicting mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke who need endovascular treatment (EVT) has previously been shown to be related to inflammation. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) values on mortality and hemorrhagic transformation. Methods: A total of 225 adult patients who underwent EVT between 2022 and 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The presence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after the procedure; good and poor clinical outcomes according to modified Rankin Scores; mortality status; and NLR, PLR, and CAR values were collected. Results: The average age of the patients was 66.95 ± 12.74 years, and 133 (59.1%) patients were male. Thirty-eight (30.4%) patients had symptomatic ICH. While 164 (72.9%) patients had a poor outcome, 80 (35.6%) patients died. There was a correlation between the NLR and PLR values and symptomatic ICH (p = 0.013, 0.009, respectively) in the univariate analysis, but this relationship was not found in the multivariate analyses (p: 0.212 and p: 0.459). No statistically significant relationship was observed between the CAR and symptomatic ICH and mortality (p = 0.784, 0.079, respectively). When the laboratory data were compared according to the mortality status, the NLR and PLR were observed to be statistically significantly higher in the patients with mortality (p < 0.001, 0.005, respectively) in univariate analyses. But, as a result, the NLR, PLR, and CAR were not associated with ICH and mortality according to the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to better understand the post-stroke immune response. Our study demonstrated that the NLR, PLR, and CAR were not associated with ICH and mortality according to the multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Introduction: For epilepsy, a common neurological disorder, brings psychosocial challenges like stigma, employment difficulties, and barriers to marriage and childbearing. Stigma often stems from misconceptions and societal beliefs, particularly in less developed regions like Turkey. However, research on the marital and childbearing experiences of epilepsy patients in such settings is limited. We aimed to research the marriage and childbearing behaviors of men and women with epilepsy.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 215 adult epilepsy patients at Antalya Training and Research Hospital between 2019 and 2022. Patients were asked questions about marriage and having children on prepared questionnaires.Result: The gender distribution of the 215 patients included in the study was revealed to be 62.3% (134) females and 37.7% (81) males. 71.6% of patients were married, and 12.7% had no children. 33.3% of these patients stated that they did not desire children because of the disease. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the duration of the disease and being unmarried. A significant correlation was observed between age at disease onset and number of children.Conclusion: Our study revealed the effects of individuals with epilepsy on marriage and childbearing, and as we know, it is the first study conducted in Turkey on childbearing attitudes in individuals with epilepsy. Despite medical and social developments, epilepsy is still one of the most stigmatized diseases, and the disease has considerable negative effects on marriage and fertility. Our study supported the findings of a small number of previous similar studies on this subject and additionally showed that the likelihood of having children decreased in patients using multiple ASM, and on the other hand, it showed that marriage positively affected patients in terms of social support.

Many systemic problems arise due to the side effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used in epilepsy patients. Among these adverse effects are low bone mineral density and increased fracture risk due to long-term AED use. Although various studies have supported this association with increased risk in recent years, the length of this process has not been precisely defined and there is no clear consensus on bone density scanning, intervals of screening, and the subject of calcium and vitamin D supplementation. In this study, in accordance with the most current recommendations, our applications and data, including the detection of possible bone mineralization disorders, treatment methods, and recommendations to prevent bone mineralization disorders, were evaluated in epilepsy patients who were followed up at our outpatient clinic. It was aimed to draw attention to the significance of management of bone metabolism carried out with appropriate protocols. Epilepsy patients were followed up at the Antalya Training and Research Hospital Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic who were at high risk for osteoporosis (use of valproic acid [VPA] and enzyme-inducing drugs, using any AED for over 5 years, and postmenopausal women) and were evaluated using a screening protocol. According to this protocol, a total of 190 patients suspected of osteoporosis risk were retrospectively evaluated. Four patients were excluded from the study due to secondary osteoporosis. Of the 186 patients who were included in the study, 97 (52.2%) were women and 89 (47.8%) were men. Prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) was 42%, in which osteoporosis was detected in 11.8% and osteopenia in 30.6% of the patients. Osteoporosis rate was higher at the young age group (18-45) and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.018). There was no significant difference between male and female sexes according to osteoporosis and osteopenia rates. Patients receiving polytherapy had higher osteoporosis rate and lower BMD compared to patients receiving monotherapy. Comparison of separate drug groups according to osteoporosis rate revealed that osteoporosis rate was highest in patient groups using VPA+ carbamazepine (CBZ) (29.4%) and VPA polytherapy (19.4%). Total of osteopenia and osteoporosis, or low BMD, was highest in VPA polytherapy (VPA+ non-enzyme-inducing AED [NEID]) and CBZ polytherapy (CBZ+NEID) groups, with rates of 58.3% and 55.1%, respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference between drug groups according to bone metabolism markers, vitamin D levels, and osteopenia-osteoporosis rates. Assuming bone health will be affected at an early age in epilepsy patients, providing lifestyle and diet recommendations, avoiding polytherapy including VPA and CBZ when possible, and evaluating bone metabolism at regular intervals are actions that should be applied in routine practice.

Objectives: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a disease with a high mortality rate and a very diverse etiology. The disease prognosis is related to the etiology. We aimed to investigate the etiology, mortality rates, and factors affecting mortality in patients diagnosed with NCSE in a tertiary epilepsy center in Turkey. Methods: All electroencephalograms (EEGs) were taken in the EEG laboratory of the Department of Neurology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, between June 2021 and February 2024. Patients who met the Salzburg Consensus Criteria (SCC) for NCSE were included. Demographic data, etiologic factors, comorbidities, neuroradiological imaging, laboratory data, treatments administered for NCSE and responses to treatment, short- and long-term outcomes, and EEG findings at follow-up, if any, were noted from the medical records of all patients who met the criteria. Results: A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Mortality was observed in 76 (38.4%) patients with NCSE. There was a statistically significant correlation between NCSE etiology and mortality (p < 0.001). Mortality was most common in patients with cerebral tumors as the etiology, with a rate of 63.6%. The lowest mortality rate was observed in patients with autoimmune encephalitis and epilepsy (14.3% and 17.2%, respectively). After appropriate antiseizure medication (ASM) treatment, 117 (58.5%) patients with NCSE improved. When post-treatment improvement and etiologic factors were analyzed, the highest rate of improvement was observed in the autoimmune encephalitis and CVD groups. Conclusions: Our study showed that advanced age and the presence of stroke are associated with mortality and that patients with NCSE due to autoimmune encephalitis respond well to treatment.