Early development of intractable epilepsy in children: a prospective study

Neurology. 2001 Jun 12;56(11):1445-52. doi: 10.1212/wnl.56.11.1445.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about early prediction of intractable epilepsy (IE) in children. Such information could help guide the early use of new therapies in selected patients.

Methods: Children with newly diagnosed epilepsy (n = 613) were prospectively identified from child neurology practices in Connecticut (1993--1997) and followed-up for the occurrence of IE (failure of > or = 2 drugs, > or = 1 seizure/month, over 18 months) [corrected]. Etiology and epilepsy syndromes were classified per International League Against Epilepsy guidelines.

Results: The median follow-up is 4.8 years, and 599 (97.7%) have been followed for more than 18 months. Sixty children (10.0%) have met the criteria for IE, including 34.6% with cryptogenic/symptomatic generalized, 2.7% with idiopathic, 10.7% with other localization-related, and 8.2% with unclassified epilepsy (p < 0.0001). After multivariable adjustment for epilepsy syndrome, initial seizure frequency (p < 0.0001), focal EEG slowing (p = 0.02), and acute symptomatic or neonatal status epilepticus (p = 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of IE, and age at onset between 5 and 9 years was associated with a lowered risk (p = 0.03). The absolute number of seizures and unprovoked or febrile status epilepticus were not associated substantially with IE.

Conclusions: Approximately 10% of children meet criteria for IE early in the course of their epilepsy. Cryptogenic/symptomatic generalized syndromes carry the highest risk and idiopathic syndromes the lowest. Half of IE occurs in children with nonidiopathic localization-related syndromes. Initial seizure frequency is highly predictive of IE. By contrast, absolute number of seizures and unprovoked or febrile status epilepticus are not.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Seizures, Febrile / diagnosis
  • Seizures, Febrile / drug therapy
  • Status Epilepticus / diagnosis*
  • Status Epilepticus / drug therapy*
  • Status Epilepticus / epidemiology
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants