Abstract
Purpose: The goal of this retrospective study is to identify early predictors of intractable epilepsy.Methods: This case-control study conducted from January 2007 to December 2012 included 106 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and 212 controls with well-controlled epilepsy. Univariate and multivariate analysis of predictive factors of refractoriness were performed using logistic regression.Results: In the final model, four factors significantly associated with intractable epilepsy were identified: aetiology (p = 0.001) high initial seizure frequency (p < 10-4), status epilepticus (p = 0.002), and initial myoclonic seizures (p < 10-4).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the risk of developing drug resistant epilepsy could be predicted at an early stage of the disease by some clinical features. This could help the clinicians to make the best therapy decisions and improve patient’s quality of life.
Highlights
Epilepsy is a common neurological disease characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures
They are subject to multiple trials of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), often at high doses that result in adverse effects
Epileptic syndromes were classified as structural/metabolic in more than third of cases, whereas in controls, there was a clear predominance of genetic epilepsies. 85% of controls were on monotherapy and around 90% of cases were on more than one AED
Summary
Epilepsy is a common neurological disease characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures. In 2/3 of cases, seizures can be well controlled by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), but in the remaining third, seizures still un-controlled[2,3] Patients in this latter group are defined as having intractable epilepsy and are at increased risk of injury and death due to poorly controlled seizures. They are subject to multiple trials of AEDs, often at high doses that result in adverse effects. They have higher rates of cognitive, physical and psychiatric comorbidities; tend to be socially isolated; face social stigma; and have poorer quality of life than those with non-intractable epilepsy[4,5]. Identification of drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) is essential to avoid further futile therapies that could be harmful, to optimize long-term outcomes, and to decrease the burden of care
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
