<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_joepi-2015-0025_s_001"><h3>Background</h3><p>Early identification of potential epilepsy surgery candidates is essential to the treatment process.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2015-0025_s_002"><h3>Aim</h3><p>To evaluate the clinical applicability of the ILAE definition of drug resistant epilepsy and its potential in identifying surgical candidates earlier compared to three established “older” definitions of drug resistant epilepsy.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2015-0025_s_003"><h3>Material and Methods</h3><p>Retrospective analysis of 174 patients who underwent epilepsy surgery between 1998 and 2009. Clinical factors and course of disease were extracted from patients’ charts. Drug resistant epilepsy was classified according to four definitions and the time until fulfillment of criteria compared.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2015-0025_s_004"><h3>Results</h3><p>Mean time to fulfillment of criteria of drug resistant epilepsy ranged from 11.8 (standard deviation (SD) 9.8) to 15.6 years (SD 11.3). Time to drug resistance was significantly longer applying the only definition, requiring failure of three antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (Canada definition), whereas time to fulfillment of all other definitions did not differ. Fifty percent of all patients experienced a seizure free period of ≥1 year prior to being classified as drug resistant, 13% entered another 1-year remission after fulfilling any criteria for drug resistance.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2015-0025_s_005"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>We conclude that the ILAE definition identifies drug resistant epilepsy, with similar latency like two of three formerly used definitions. It is an easy applicable tool to minimize the delay of referral to a specialized center. Intermittent remissions delay assessment of drug resistance for all definitions and 13% of patients enter a remission despite established drug resistance.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundEarly identification of potential epilepsy surgery candidates is essential to the treatment process.AimTo evaluate the clinical applicability of the ILAE definition of drug resistant epilepsy and its potential in identifying surgical candidates earlier compared to three established “older” definitions of drug resistant epilepsy.Material and MethodsRetrospective analysis of 174 patients who underwent epilepsy surgery between 1998 and 2009. Clinical factors and course of disease were extracted from patients’ charts. Drug resistant epilepsy was classified according to four definitions and the time until fulfillment of criteria compared.ResultsMean time to fulfillment of criteria of drug resistant epilepsy ranged from 11.8 (standard deviation (SD) 9.8) to 15.6 years (SD 11.3). Time to drug resistance was significantly longer applying the only definition, requiring failure of three antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) (Canada definition), whereas time to fulfillment of all other definitions did not differ. Fifty percent of all patients experienced a seizure free period of ≥1 year prior to being classified as drug resistant, 13% entered another 1-year remission after fulfilling any criteria for drug resistance.ConclusionWe conclude that the ILAE definition identifies drug resistant epilepsy, with similar latency like two of three formerly used definitions. It is an easy applicable tool to minimize the delay of referral to a specialized center. Intermittent remissions delay assessment of drug resistance for all definitions and 13% of patients enter a remission despite established drug resistance.

The ILAE definition of drug resistant epilepsy and its clinical applicability compared with “older” established definitions
 

Journal of Epileptology

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