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Published on: December 18, 2016
Transient seizure remission in intractable localization-related epilepsy
J Takenaka1, K Aso, K Watanabe
1Department of Pediatrics; Nagoya University School of Medicine;, Nagoya, Japan.
Pediatric Neurology
|November 9, 2000
Summary
Transient seizure remission occurred in 10% of children with intractable epilepsy. Remission lasted over two years, but seizures often recurred and became untreatable, suggesting complex interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epilepsy Research
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Intractable epilepsy in childhood presents significant management challenges.
- Transient seizure remission is a poorly understood phenomenon in epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics of transient seizure remission in pediatric intractable localization-related epilepsy.
- To understand the duration, recurrence patterns, and potential contributing factors of seizure remission.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 99 patients with intractable localization-related epilepsy.
- Analysis of seizure frequency temporal profiles and electroencephalography (EEG) data.
- Comparison of patients with and without transient seizure remission.
Main Results:
- Ten patients (10%) experienced transient seizure remission lasting ≥2 years.
- Remission onset ranged from 1-18 months after initiating antiepileptic drugs.
- Seizures recurred spontaneously in all patients, often becoming refractory to treatment post-recurrence.
- EEG epileptiform discharges normalized during remission in 7 patients and reappeared after recurrence in 5.
Conclusions:
- Transient seizure remission is observed in pediatric intractable epilepsy, irrespective of underlying pathology.
- Factors like normal intelligence and family history may be associated with remission.
- The phenomenon may involve an interplay between the epileptogenic zone's progression and antiepileptic drug effects.
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