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. 2008 Aug;49(8):1440-5.
doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01601.x. Epub 2008 Apr 10.

Seizure remission and relapse in adults with intractable epilepsy: a cohort study

Hyunmi Choi  1 , Gary Heiman, Dionysis Pandis, Julio Cantero, Stanley R Resor, Frank G Gilliam, W Allen Hauser
Affiliations

Seizure remission and relapse in adults with intractable epilepsy: a cohort study

Hyunmi Choi et al. Epilepsia. 2008 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the cumulative probabilities of >or=12 month seizure remission and seizure relapse following remission, and to test the associations of clinical characteristics with these two study end points in a prevalence cohort of intractable adult epilepsy patients during medical management.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of intractable epilepsy patients seen in 2001 at a single center was conducted. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the cumulative probabilities of seizure remission and subsequent seizure relapse. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association (1) between clinical factors and >or=12 month seizure remission and (2) between clinical factors and seizure relapse following remission.

Results: One hundred eighty-seven subjects met the eligibility criteria for intractable epilepsy. The estimate of probability of remission was about 4% per year. Seizure remission was temporary for some individuals, as 5 out of 20 subjects with remission ultimately relapsed. No clinical factors predicted the likelihood of achieving >or=12 month seizure remission or subsequent seizure relapse.

Discussion: Some people with intractable epilepsy achieve >or=12 month seizure remission during medical treatment. Remission, however, is only temporary for some individuals. We were unable to identify clear predictors for remission.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: We confirm that we have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Breakdown of subjects by epilepsy types and outcome. Epilepsia © ILAE
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaplan–Meier estimate of cumulative probability of achieving 12 months or more seizure remission during pharmacotherapy in 187 adults with intractable epilepsy. Epilepsia © ILAE
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kaplan–Meier estimate of cumulative probability for subsequent seizure relapse (in the 20 subjects who achieved 12 months or more of seizure remission). Epilepsia © ILAE
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