Risk of recurrence after first unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure in adults
Date
1995
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Abstract
The likelihood of seizure recurrence after a first unprovoked seizure has profound social, vocational and emotional implications for the patients. Recurrence rates have varied between 27% and 71% in various studies, and the management of patients with a single unprovoked seizure is a controversial topic. In this prospective study we investigated the influence of age, sex, family history, EEG patterns, and anticonvulsant drug (ACD) therapy on seizure recurrence after a first unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure in adults. For this purpose, between October 1988 and January 1991, we studied adult patients who had experienced their after unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure within last 2 months before neurological consultation, and followed them until June 1993. There were 147 patients who met the criteria for inclusion. Overall cumulative recurrence rates were 31.8% by 6 months, 41.3% by 1 year, 44.1% by 2 years, 42.2% by 3 years, and 45.2% by 4 years. Among the risk factors that were evaluated, the time of the day at which the initial seizure occurred was associated significantly (P < 0.05) with seizure recurrence. In our series, 62 patients received ACD and 85 did not. We did not find a significant difference in recurrence rate with regard to ACD therapy. Our results are comparable with those of studies reported preeviously and suggest that the majority of recurrences after a first unprovoked seizure were seen in the first year (in our series 89% of all recurrences). In our study there was no significant predictor of seizure recurrence, except the time of day at which the initial seizure occurred.
Description
Keywords
Epilepsy, Seizure recurrence, Anticonvulsant therapy, 1st seizure, Epilepsy, Childhood, Prognosis
Citation
Bora, İ. H. vd. (1995). ''Risk of recurrence after first unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure in adults''. Journal of Neurology, 242(3), 157-163.