THE PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF THE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM IN ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUG-WITHDRAWAL IN PARTIAL EPILEPSIES

We evaluated the prognostic value of the EEG in 120 seizure-free epile ptic patients (49 with complex partial seizures with or without episod ic secondarily generalization [CPS], 20 with simple partial seizures w ith or without episodic secondarily generalization [SPS], 51 with only secondarily generalized seizures [PSG]) during and after antiepilepti c drug withdrawal. All patients had EEG examination before; during; an d 3, 12, 24, and 36 months after drug withdrawal. Relapse rates were 4 5% in CPS: 100% in SPS, and 65% in PSG. Before reduction, 36 patients had epileptiform EEG and 69% relapsed; in the group with normal EEG, 6 0% relapsed. EEG worsened in 36 patients, 83% relapsed, whereas only 5 4% of patients with unchanged EEG relapsed, EEG during but not at the start of drug withdrawal has a prognostic value in partial epilepsy.