Publication:

Children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy those underwent at least two years seizure remission: a retrospective analysis

Background The aim of the retrospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the index antiepileptic drugs in children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy who underwent at least 2 years remission.

Methods A total of 52 children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy who underwent at least 2 years remission were identified retrospectively from the records of the paediatric and neurology care clinic from April 2017 to December 2020.

Results The seizure patterns of 52 cases were tonic-clonic seizures alone (73%), a combination of tonic-clonic seizures and absences (13.5%), and combined tonic-clonic seizures and myoclonus (13.5%).  The total number of seizures at enrolment in all (age at seizure onset 7.44±5.12 years, male-female ratio (31:21) was 651 (mean 12.52±26.60). The total number of follow-up visits in all was 6.62±14.44 consisting of 1177.5±772.86 days of follow-up periods. All patients continued index antiepileptic drugs with initial target doses varies from low to moderate ranges. Add-on therapy was initiated in 43% of cases around the titration phase of index antiepileptic drugs (i.e. very early add-on). Treatment trends reveal increased use of 1st generation antiepileptic drugs than 2nd and 3rd generation. 2 years seizure remission rates were 55.77% by index antiepileptic drugs only therapy and 44.23% by very early add-on therapy.  The seizure remission period was mean±SD 858.71±209.08 days.

Conclusions Index antiepileptic drugs with low to moderate initial target doses lead to achieving 2 years or more seizure remission. Very early add-on therapy is the novelty and leads to achieving the goal.