Abstracts

Rationale: Febrile convulsion (FC) is known to be associated with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), but its impact on the natural history of seizure recurrence before and after epilepsy surgery is still unclear. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of FC on MTLE. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with MTLE who underwent anterior mesial temporal lobe resection between 2005 to 2017, with at least 12 months follow up. Data on patients’ demographics and risk factors were obtained, but only those with complete medical records were studied. Results: Among the 44 patients studied, there was 29 (66%) men, with mean age at time of surgery of 32 years (range; 16-54 years), and mean age at epilepsy onset of 12 years (range; 1-36 years). Prior to surgery, the mean number of seizures was 10 per month (range; 2.5-30), and FC was documented in 18 (41%), of which 12 were men (67% vs 33%, p = 0.9). On average, seizure frequency was significantly higher in patients with history of febrile convulsions of both sexes (4 seizures more in men, 95% CI; 0.2 – 8, p < 0.001), (20 seizures more in women, 95% CI; 6-24, p <0.001). Post-MTLE surgery, the absence of febrile convulsion was associated with seizure free state only in men (adjusted OR = 0.4, 95% CI; 0.1 – 0.8, p=0.02) irrespective of being on or off medications. Favorable seizure outcomes post TLE surgery was not influenced by the presence of febrile convulsion in our studied population, particularly in female patients. Conclusions: The presence of febrile convulsion was associated with increased seizures prior to epilepsy surgery, with no favorable seizure control observed following epilepsy surgery, yet the gender difference associated with the absence of FC may warrant further studies. Funding: No funding