Seizure outcome and epilepsy patterns in patients with cerebral palsy. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: El Tantawi, Noha T.; Abd Elmegid, Dina S.; Atef, Eman
• Is Part Of: Seizure. Volume 65(2019)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: CP cerebral palsy -- AEDs antiepileptic medications -- GMFCS gross motor function classification system; Epilepsy -- Outcome -- Patterns -- Cerebral palsy; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Epilepsy -- Periodicals; Seizures -- Periodicals; Épilepsie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 616.853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2019.01.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1059-1311

Abstract

Highlights: Only nine patients (8%) completed five years seizure free period. Twenty four patients (22.4%) never had 2 years free of seizures. The relapsing remitting pattern is the most common pattern in CP patients (35.5%). Polytherapy was used in 87.5% of patients over the 8 years period. Abstract: Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate epilepsy patterns and outcomes in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and identify the variables that determine remission. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. We followed 107 CP patients aged 1–16 years with newly diagnosed epilepsy. The patients were categorized according to their remission outcome, uninterrupted freedom of seizure for 2 years or longer, and 4 epilepsy patterns: A) sustained freedom from seizures before 6 months of treatment; B) delayed but sustained seizure freedom; C) relapsing-remitting course; and D) seizure freedom never attained. The variables were analysed for their prognostic relevance to the outcomes Results: A total of 107 patients were included; their mean age at epilepsy diagnosis was 4.2 years (SD 2.5). By the end of the 8-year follow up, 19.6% 26.1%, 31.7%, and 22.4% were in sustained remission, terminal remission, relapse, and no remission respectively. Pattern A was identified in 6.5% of the patients, pattern B in 27.1%, pattern C in 43.9%, and pattern Din 22.4%. Univariate analysis revealed that the type of CP, mobility, and number of seizure types, are among the other factors that significantly affected remission. Conclusion: A total of 45% of patients with CP and epilepsy achieved remission (with and without antiepileptics) but after a relatively long treatment duration. Remission was affected by patient- and epilepsy-related factors. More studies are required to further evaluate these factors.