Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Epilepsy
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1464984

Causal associations of ischemic stroke, metabolic factors, and related medications with epilepsy: a Mendelian randomization study

Provisionally accepted
Wencai Wang Wencai Wang Menghao Liu Menghao Liu Fengling Liu Fengling Liu Zun Wang Zun Wang Wei Ye Wei Ye Xianfeng Li Xianfeng Li *
  • The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Earlier researches have demonstrated that ischemic stroke, metabolic factors, and associated medications may influence the risk of epilepsy. Nevertheless, the causality between these elements and epilepsy remains inconclusive. This study aims to examine whether ischemic stroke, metabolic factors, and related medications affect the overall risk of epilepsy. Methods：We used single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with ischemic stroke, hypothyroidism, hypertension, blood glucose levels, high cholesterol, serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels, testosterone, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, and beta-blocking agents as instrumental variables in a Mendelian randomization technique to investigate causality with epilepsy. Multiple sensitivity methods were performed to evaluate pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Results：The IVW analysis revealed positive associations between ischemic stroke (OR = 1.29; P = 0.020), hypothyroidism (OR = 1.05; P = 0.048), high blood pressure (OR = 1.10; P = 0.028), high cholesterol (OR = 1.10; P = 0.024), HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (OR = 1.19; P = 0.003), beta-blocking agents (OR = 1.20; P = 0.006), and the risk of epilepsy. Conversely, blood glucose levels (OR = 0.79; P = 0.009), serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels (OR = 0.75; P = 0.020), and testosterone (OR = 0.62; P = 0.019) exhibited negative associations with the risk of epilepsy. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our research suggests that ischemic stroke, hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, and beta-blockers may increase the risk of epilepsy, whereas serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels and blood glucose levels may reduce the risk.

    Keywords: Epilepsy, Mendelian randomization, ischemic stroke, Metabolic factors, Medications

    Received: 15 Jul 2024; Accepted: 28 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Liu, Liu, Wang, Ye and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Xianfeng Li, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.