Abstracts

Rationale: Describe the long-term outcome in a clinically well-defined series of patients with IGE and predictors of at least 5 years seizure remission off medication Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we described the seizure outcome in 65 patients with IGE who were followed for at least 10 years and predictors of 5 at least 5 years seizure remission off medication at a specialized epilepsy center in Cairo and were treated by single senior epileptologist. Results: After a mean follow up time of 13.1 years, range (10 - 18 years), 47 (72.3%) of the patients remained free of seizures for at least 5 years, range (5-12 years ,Av.= 7.5 years). Age of remission range (8-37 years ,Av.=21 years).Among the seizure free patients, 38 (80.9%) were taking antiepileptic drugs and 9 (19.1 %) were off medication for at least 5 years. Among the 9 patients who achieved at least 5 years seizure remission during the follow up period,2 (22.2%) had classic absence, 1 (11.1%) had juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) , 6 (66.7 %)had juvenile myoclonic epilepsy but none had epilepsy with GTCs only, 7 (77.8%) were females, 7 (77.8%) had more than 50% normal EEGs of all EEGs done during follow up period, 8 (88.9%) were on low dose monotherapy before AED discontinuation and 1 patient was off medication from the start, 1 (11.1%) had sleep deprivation as precipitating factor for seizures .None of 9 patients had 3 seizure types Conclusions: A significant proportion of the patients with IGE with at least follow up 10 years achieved at least 5 years seizure remission.Good predictors for at least 5 years seizure remission off medication were female gender, more than 50% normal EEGs, patient who is controlled on low dose monotherapy while bad predictors were epilepsy with GTCs only, experiencing 3 seizure types and sleep deprivation as precipitating factor.