PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR CHILDHOOD AND JUVENILE ABSENCE EPILEPSIES

To assess prognostic factors for absence epilepsy (AE), we analyzed da ta from 80 patients treated for childhood AE (CAE; n = 53) or juvenile AE (JAE; n = 27) in our epilepsy clinic between 1985 and 1992. All pa tients were classified according to the International Classification o f Epileptic Syndromes which was proposed by the International League a gainst Epilepsy in 1989. Patients were separated into two groups based on the course of disease under adequate treatment: Complete response group (CRG): disappearance of absence seizures (AS) or generalized ton ic-clonic seizures (GTCS). Poor response group (PRG): persistence of A S and/or GTCS. Approximately 40% of both CAE and JAE patients had poor response. One parameter was associated with poor prognosis in CAE pat ients, the presence of polyspikes or polyspikes and waves during sleep . No statistical correlation was made for JAE patients. GTCS were freq uent in JAE and GTCS occurrence in CAE patients was associated signifi cantly with age at onset after 8 (p < 0.05). The fact that social and educational performance was poorer in the PRG of both types of AE unde rlines the importance of therapeutic response in patient rehabilitatio n.