engleski

Seizure remission in an adolescent and adult population with newly diagnosed epilepsy: A study in 54 patients

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder with a myriad of clinical manifestations known as seizures. Once the diagnosis has been established, the person carries great burden. In spite of this, the physician can offer reasonable prediction of disorder rather early in the course of the disease. Aim: To investigate seizure remission defined as a seizure-free period lasting for one or five years in the adolescent and adult population of the Varazdin County. Methods: The diagnosis of epilepsy was established during a 4-year period (1996-1999). Fifty-four patients were followed from 1996 to June 2005, median 6 (6-10) years. During this period, 1-year and 5-year remission was calculated. The age at epilepsy diagnosis, epilepsy etiology, seizure type, predominant EEG type and occurrence of seizure(s) within 1 year of antiepileptic therapy initiation were recorded and used for stratification. Results: The cumulative 1-year remission was 78% and 5-year remission 42%. The patients with one or more seizures within one year of antiepileptic drug introduction had a significantly less chance to attain 5-year remission (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our population of adolescents and adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy achieved 1-year remission in high percentage, whereas 5-year remission was only achieved by less than half of patients. The presence of complex partial epilepsy with or without secondary generalization was associated with a poorer prognosis to achieve 1-year remission, whereas symptomatic etiology was a favorable prognostic factor to achieve 1-year remission. Study results pointed to a fairly good prognosis in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. However, if seizures recurred within one year of the antiepileptic drug introduction, the chances for long-term remission were significantly lower.

epilepsy; seizure; remission; prognosis

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