<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_joepi-2016-0001_s_001"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Population-based data on the prognosis of childhood-onset epilepsy were almost nonexistent in the 1960s. This prompted me to start an epidemiological prospective study on children with epilepsy.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2016-0001_s_002"><h3>Aim</h3><p>To study the medical and social outcome of children with epilepsy.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2016-0001_s_003"><h3>Methods</h3><p>The most important personal data on the natural course and outcome were reviewed and compared with the relevant data of other investigators.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2016-0001_s_004"><h3>Results and discussion</h3><p>The natural course of treated epilepsy is remitting, uninterrupted by relapse (in 48%); a remitting-relapsing course (interrupted by relapses, in terminal remission) (19%); worsening course (early or late remission followed by drug-resistant epilepsy) (14%); and never in ?5-year remission (drug resistance) (19%) The medical and social outcomes based on my unique, five decades followed cohort show that most subjects are in 10-year remission without medications, which is the definition of resolved epilepsy. Normal or subnormal IQ, non-symptomatic etiology, and low seizure frequency both in the first year of AED treatment and prior to medication appear to be clinical predictors of cure in childhood-onset epilepsy. Subjects with 1-year remission during the first five years form onset of treatment have more than 10-fold chance for entering 5-year terminal remission vs those who have no 1-year remission during the first five years. Even about one fourth of difficult-to-treat subjects become seizure free on medication and more than half of them enter one or more 5-year remissions. Epilepsy has a substantial impact on quality of life even in those who are seizure free off medication for many years and particularly those not in remission or in remission but still on medication.</p></sec><sec id="j_joepi-2016-0001_s_005"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The prognosis is excellent for medical and social outcome. The successful outcome is confirmed by several longitudinal studies from recent decades. Good response to early drug therapy does not necessarily guarantee a favorable seizure outcome, and even a late good response may still predict a successful prognosis. Our life-cycle study is being continued and targets to answer the question whether or not childhood-onset epilepsy is a risk factor for premature and/or increased incidence of mental impairment and dementia.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionPopulation-based data on the prognosis of childhood-onset epilepsy were almost nonexistent in the 1960s. This prompted me to start an epidemiological prospective study on children with epilepsy.AimTo study the medical and social outcome of children with epilepsy.MethodsThe most important personal data on the natural course and outcome were reviewed and compared with the relevant data of other investigators.Results and discussionThe natural course of treated epilepsy is remitting, uninterrupted by relapse (in 48%); a remitting-relapsing course (interrupted by relapses, in terminal remission) (19%); worsening course (early or late remission followed by drug-resistant epilepsy) (14%); and never in ?5-year remission (drug resistance) (19%) The medical and social outcomes based on my unique, five decades followed cohort show that most subjects are in 10-year remission without medications, which is the definition of resolved epilepsy. Normal or subnormal IQ, non-symptomatic etiology, and low seizure frequency both in the first year of AED treatment and prior to medication appear to be clinical predictors of cure in childhood-onset epilepsy. Subjects with 1-year remission during the first five years form onset of treatment have more than 10-fold chance for entering 5-year terminal remission vs those who have no 1-year remission during the first five years. Even about one fourth of difficult-to-treat subjects become seizure free on medication and more than half of them enter one or more 5-year remissions. Epilepsy has a substantial impact on quality of life even in those who are seizure free off medication for many years and particularly those not in remission or in remission but still on medication.ConclusionsThe prognosis is excellent for medical and social outcome. The successful outcome is confirmed by several longitudinal studies from recent decades. Good response to early drug therapy does not necessarily guarantee a favorable seizure outcome, and even a late good response may still predict a successful prognosis. Our life-cycle study is being continued and targets to answer the question whether or not childhood-onset epilepsy is a risk factor for premature and/or increased incidence of mental impairment and dementia.

Natural course of treated epilepsy and medico-social outcomes. Turku studies. Part II

Journal of Epileptology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

IntroductionPopulation-based data on the prognosis of childhood-onset epilepsy were almost nonexistent in the 1960s. This prompted me to start an...

Natural course of treated epilepsy and medico-social outcomes. Turku studies. Part II

Pubblicato online: 25 gen 2016

Pagine: 25 - 39

Ricevuto: 07 gen 2016

Accettato: 18 gen 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/joepi-2016-0001

Parole chiave
childhood-onset epilepsy, drug-resistant epilepsy, long-term outcome, natural course of epilepsy, population-based cohort

© 2016 Matti Sillanpää et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Natural course of treated epilepsy and medico-social outcomes. Turku studies. Part II

Pubblicato online: 25 gen 2016

Pagine: 25 - 39

Ricevuto: 07 gen 2016

Accettato: 18 gen 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/joepi-2016-0001

Parole chiavechildhood-onset epilepsy, drug-resistant epilepsy, long-term outcome, natural course of epilepsy, population-based cohort

© 2016 Matti Sillanpää et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Parole chiave
childhood-onset epilepsy, drug-resistant epilepsy, long-term outcome, natural course of epilepsy, population-based cohort