Abstracts

Seizure Semeiology But Not (Inter)Ictal EEG as Predictor for Successful Medication Withdrawal Following Temporal Lobe Surgery

Abstract number : 2.216
Submission category :
Year : 2000
Submission ID : 1267
Source : www.aesnet.org
Presentation date : 12/2/2000 12:00:00 AM
Published date : Dec 1, 2000, 06:00 AM

Authors :
Geert J Brekelmans, Rene M Debets, Willem Alpherts, Kees W Veelen, Peter C Rijen, Walter Emde Boas, SEIN, Heemstede, Netherlands; UMC, Utrecht, Netherlands.

RATIONALE:_Retrospective evaluation of EEG and clinical factors that may predict a favourable outcome following decrease or discontinuation of antiepileptic drug therapy after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. METHODS:_ Yearly follow up (2-10 years) was available of 203 patients who had partial temporal lobectomy according to the protocol of the DCESP. Factors that were assessed were postoperative outcome according to the UCLA criteria, AED reduction or discontinuation, seizure semiology, interictal and ictal EEG data. RESULTS: Chi-square tests of cross tables of the EEG data did not demonstrate results that reached significance. However variables of seizure semiology reached a significance level of 0.02. CONCLUSIONS: Interictal and ictal EEG data could not predict the likelyhood of relapse of seizures after withdrawal of AED?s. Only seizure semiology, typical for temporal lobe seizure onset was associated with a favourable outcome concerning AED withdrawal.