J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1997 Oct;15(5):980-989.

The possibility of early anticonvulsant withdrawal in adult patients with good predictors of seizure relapse

• Bang OY
• Kwak YT
• Park SC
• Lee BI

Abstract

Despite may studies of withdrawal of anitepileptic drugs our knowledge of the factor which influence the risk of seizure relapse is poor. So many people with a history of epilepsy continue to take antiepileptic drugs despite of long period of remission. To define prognostic factors and evaluate the possibility of early withdrawl in patients with good prognostic factor, we retrospectively studied the factors influencing their risk of seizure relapse with 66 adult epilepsy patients. Thirty-two of 66 patients remained free from seizure at least for 6 months. Among the rest(34 patients, relapse rate 52 %), 19 patients had recurrence of seizure during the period of tapering drugs, and 15 patients after withdrawI. The recurrence of seizure decreased with younger age of onset(esp, before 15 years old), shorter duration of seizures(esp, less than 5 years) and adequate periods of taping before anticonvulsant withdrawl. It increased with the abnormal neurologic findings. However, it showed no relation with the period free from seizure on anticonvulsant administration. So in patients with such good prognostic factors, the trial of early withdrawal(with short seizure free period) might be worth according to circumstances.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Anticonvulsants
Epilepsy
Humans
Neurologic Manifestations
Recurrence*
Retrospective Studies
Seizures*
Anticonvulsants