Philine Senf1, Bettina Schmitz, Martin Holtkamp, Dieter Janz. 1. From the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine (P.S.), and Epilepsy-Center Berlin-Brandenburg, Department of Neurology (M.H., D.J.), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin; and Center for Epilepsy (B.S.), Department of Neurology, Vivantes-Humboldt Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is the most common idiopathic generalized epilepsy subsyndrome, contributing to approximately 3% to 11% of adolescent and adult cases of epilepsy. However, little is known about the long-term medical evolution of this clinical entity. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcome in a clinically well-defined series of patients with JME for seizure evolution and predictors of seizure outcome. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed seizure outcome in 66 patients who had JME, were treated at the Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and were initially diagnosed by a single senior epileptologist. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 44.6 years (20-69 years), 59.1% of patients remained free of seizures for at least 5 years before the last contact. Among the seizure-free patients, 28 (71.8%) were still taking antiepileptic drugs and 11 (28.2%) were off medication for at least the last 5 years. We identified manifestation of additional absence seizures at onset of JME as an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome regarding seizure freedom. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of patients with JME were seizure-free and off antiepileptic drug therapy in the later course of their disorder. Patients with JME and additional absence seizures might represent a different JME subtype with a worse outcome.
OBJECTIVES:Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is the most common idiopathic generalized epilepsy subsyndrome, contributing to approximately 3% to 11% of adolescent and adult cases of epilepsy. However, little is known about the long-term medical evolution of this clinical entity. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcome in a clinically well-defined series of patients with JME for seizure evolution and predictors of seizure outcome. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed seizure outcome in 66 patients who had JME, were treated at the Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and were initially diagnosed by a single senior epileptologist. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up time of 44.6 years (20-69 years), 59.1% of patients remained free of seizures for at least 5 years before the last contact. Among the seizure-free patients, 28 (71.8%) were still taking antiepileptic drugs and 11 (28.2%) were off medication for at least the last 5 years. We identified manifestation of additional absence seizures at onset of JME as an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome regarding seizure freedom. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of patients with JME were seizure-free and off antiepileptic drug therapy in the later course of their disorder. Patients with JME and additional absence seizures might represent a different JME subtype with a worse outcome.
Authors: Dace N Almane; Jana E Jones; Taylor McMillan; Carl E Stafstrom; David A Hsu; Michael Seidenberg; Bruce P Hermann; Temitayo O Oyegbile Journal: Pediatr Neurol Date: 2019-03-19 Impact factor: 3.372