Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
Seizure remission and relapse in adults with intractable epilepsy: a cohort study
Hyunmi Choi1, Gary Heiman, Dionysis Pandis
1Department of Neurology, The Neurological Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
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.
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Epilepsy ll: Types
Seizures l: Introduction
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Seizures ll: Types
