Early prediction of seizure remission in children with occipital lobe epilepsy

• Published in: European journal of paediatric neurology Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 161 - 165
• Main Authors: Mennink, Sylvia, Nieuwenhuizen, Onno van, Jennekens-Schinkel, Aag, Schouw, Yvonne T.van der, Meij, Wil van der, Huffelen, Alexander C.van
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2003
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Cognition Disorders - complications; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Electroencephalography; Epilepsies, Partial - complications; Epilepsies, Partial - diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Occipital lobe epilepsy; Prediction of outcome; Psychomotor Disorders - complications; Psychomotor Disorders - diagnosis; Remission Induction; Retrospective Studies; Seizure remission; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Occipital lobe epilepsy; Prediction of outcome; Seizure remission
• ISSN: 1090-3798; 1532-2130
• DOI: 10.1016/S1090-3798(03)00059-X

The purpose of this study was to identify early predictors of seizure remission in occipital lobe epilepsy irrespective of syndrome classification i.e. idiopathic or symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy. Forty-three children with occipital lobe epilepsy had taken part in an earlier study of seizure semiology, neurological deficits, psychomotor/cognitive status, electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging. On the basis of the results of a questionnaire on the state of their epilepsy in 2000, two groups were composed. One group (
n=17) consisted of the children with a complete seizure remission of 5 years or more, and the other (
n=26) comprised children whose last seizure occurred less than 5 years ago. Our findings indicate that neurological deficit and EEG characteristics can predict 5 year outcome of occipital lobe epilepsy. Neuroradiological abnormality, psychomotor/cognitive status and seizure semiology appear to be of more limited value.