Abstracts

Rationale: The aim of this study was to explore the current status of medical issues during transition from children to adult in a pediatric epilepsy center in South Korea. Methods: Data were collected from patients with epilepsy (aged 18~40 years), who visited the pediatric epilepsy clinic between March 1990 and April 2018 Results: We identified 268 patients (130 males, 138 females) who were diagnosed as epilepsy during their childhood and continued the treatment at least more than 2 years. Among them, only 7.8% (21 patients) visited adult epilepsy clinic after pediatric neurologists’ consultation with all others’ refusals, and 3 patients returned to pediatric center for several environmental reasons, for example, one of the patient had to continue to visit to children's hospital due to his congenital heart disease. The average patient’s age of transition was 23 years old. 10 patients have been taking more than 2 AEDs when their transition. 8 patients had structural etiologies such as tuberous sclerosis, bacterial meningitis, and encephalitis, etc. 7 patients had psychological problems including mental retardation, depression, schizophrenia. After transition, 7 patient changed their dosage of medication or types of AEDs by and 15 patients reevaluate EEG. Conclusions: This study describes current difficulties of transition from pediatric to adult epilepsy center without appropriate systematic supports. Although recent guidelines insist the importance of transition care of epilepsy during adolescence, there are so many obstacles. So to improve transition from pediatric to adult care, further studies are needed about the current resistant by patients and their parents. Funding: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.