[Long-term follow-up of absence epilepsy]

This study dealt with 58 patients with absence, of whom 46 patients had started with absence and 12 with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCs). Only those patients followed up for more than five years were included, and 30 patients (51.7%) were over eighteen years of age (up to 33). All patients received the present standard medication with ethosuximide and valproate in this study. In each case the diagnosis was confirmed by clinical observation and the typical EEG pattern. A seizure-free interval of at least 1 year was defined as seizure cessation for absence, and a seizure-free interval of at least 2 years for GTCs. Thirty-eight out of 43 patients (88.4%) with absence at onset (group A) and 18 out of 22 (81.8%) older than 18 years became seizure free. Only 8 of 15 (53.3%) patients with initial GTCs (group B) and 5 of 8 (62.5%) over 18 years became seizure free. In all, about 80% of the patients with absence seizures became seizure free as did those who were followed beyond 18 years of age. Out of 15 patients with initial GTCs, 8 of 10 (80%) patients who developed absence seizures later (group B-1) became seizure free, whereas none of 5 patients who had absence and GTC at the same time (group B-2) did. The social status was mainly favorable, even if seizures were uncontrolled. Adequate predictable factors for the development of GTCs were lacking, but the clinical courses in patients of group B-1 resembled those of group A and were rather benign.