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A Five-Year Follow-up Study

Prakash Kotagal, MD; A. David Rothner, MD; Gerald Erenberg, MD; Robert P. Cruse, DO; Elaine Wyllie, MD

Arch Neurol. 1987;44(11):1177-1180.

Abstract
• Few detailed studies have examined the long-term outcome of complex partial seizures (CPS) in children and adolescents. Previous studies have selected patients on clinical criteria only or have included those with benign focal epileptiform discharges of childhood, nonepileptiform sharp transients, and generalized epileptiform discharges. We have followed up 29 patients with clinically and electroencephalographically defined CPS of childhood onset for five years or more. Twelve patients are seizure free, eight of them after having epilepsy surgery. Of the remaining, eight patients have intractable seizures. Only one patient was able to discontinue anticonvulsant therapy after epilepsy surgery. No patient had spontaneous remission of seizures without anticonvulsant medications. School difficulties, behavior problems, and unemployment were seen in half the group. We believe CPS in this age group are difficult to control and need aggressive mangement. In selected patients, epilepsy surgery offers a good chance of seizure control and improvement of educational, social, and vocational potential.

Author Affiliations
From the Sections of Pediatric Neurology (Drs Kotagal, Rothner, Erenberg, Cruse, and Wyllie) and Epilepsy and Clinical Electroencephalography (Dr Wyllie), The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 8, 1987.

Read before the 38th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, New Orleans, April 29, 1986.

Reprint requests to The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 (Dr Kotagal).

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