Consanguinity and epilepsy in Oran, Algeria: A case-control study

Purpose: The goal of this case-control study was to identify the significance of consanguinity and other risk factors for epilepsy in Oran, Algeria. Methods: Unrelated epileptic patients upwards of 16 years, who attended the Neurology Department between October 2013 and March 2014 were included in the study. Controls, matched for age and sex, were selected among non-epileptic patients attending the same department during the same period. The risk factors evaluated were: consanguinity, family history of epilepsy, perinatal complications, infection of the central nervous system, mental retardation, neurological impairment, history of febrile seizures, severe head trauma, cerebrovascular diseases, and addiction. Results: 101 cases and 202 controls participated in the study. Multivariate logistic regression identified five factors significantly associated with epilepsy: first-degree of consanguinity (odds ratio (OR) = 2.15), history of epilepsy in first-degree relatives (OR = 4.03), antecedent of febrile seizures (OR = 5.38), severe head injury (OR = 2.94) and mental retardation (OR = 9.32). Conclusion: Consanguinity, family history of epilepsy, history of febrile seizures, severe head trauma and mental retardation are risk factors for epilepsy. The implementation of a strategy for prevention and awareness of the impact of consanguineous marriages as well as genetic counseling for couples with a family history of epilepsy are needed.