Abstracts

Rationale: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is commonly perceived as being drug resisant in nature. Recently, attention has been drawn to "benign" variants of TLE: epilepsy that is well controlled for long periods on a low dose of one anti-epileptic medication. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with this entity. Methods: The charts of patients presenting to our Epliepsy Centre were reviewed and patients meeting the following criteria were evaluated: a diagnosis (clinical, radiological or electrographic) of temporal lobe epilepsy that has been well controlled (less than one seizure per month) for a period of greater than two years using only one or no anti-epileptic medications. Results: Ten patients were reviewed in total. Eight out of ten patients were female. Mean age was 53.9 years (S.D. = 21.3). The mean age of seizure onset was 32 years (S.D. = 19.0). All patients suffered from complex partial seizures and 50% had radiographical evidence of mesial temporal lobe sclerosis. Conclusions: This case series illustrates that TLE includes a benign variant that is well controlled on one anti-eplieptic medication despite the presence of mesial temporal lobe sclerosis in most cases. Recognition of this syndrome is crucial in further surgical evaluation of patients presenting with TLE, especially in the context of mesial temporal lobe sclerosis.