Seizures associated with dural arteriovenous fistulas: A systematic review of cases

Abstract

Objective: Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are an unusual cause of seizures. In this systematic review, we aim to describe the clinical features, paraclinical findings, management, and prognosis of cases of DAVF-related seizures, raising awareness for a potentially treatable cause of epilepsy.

Methods: This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024529316). We searched OVID MEDLINE, OVID Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for case reports/series of patients presenting with seizures associated with DAVFs. Original studies describing at least two out of four outcome categories (clinical features, paraclinical findings, treatment, and prognosis) were included. The methodological quality of each study was evaluated using a standardized tool. We performed descriptive analyses to summarize the clinical characteristics of all cases. We repeated these analyses while excluding cases where seizures may have had a likelier cause than DAVFs.

Results: In total, 120 patients were included from 94 articles. Median age was 57 years, and most patients were male (70 %). The most common manifestations accompanying seizures were headaches (22 %). Status epilepticus occurred in 38 % of cases. DAVFs were most commonly in the left hemisphere. The main venous sinus involved was the transverse sinus. Cortical venous reflux was present in almost all cases (93 %); most DAVFs were considered aggressive according to Cognard and Borden classifications. Seizure freedom was most common following angiographic interventions.

Conclusion: DAVFs, even when uncomplicated, can be a potential cause of treatable seizures. More aggressive DAVFs with cortical venous reflux seem to be the main culprit. Angiographic interventions can help achieve seizure freedom.

Keywords: Arteriovenous malformation; CVT; Cerebral venous thrombosis; Convulsion; Epilepsy; Vascular malformation.