M. Aikia et al., Predictors of seizure outcome in newly diagnosed partial epilepsy: memory performance as a prognostic factor, EPILEPSY R, 37(2), 1999, pp. 159-167
The epilepsy patients whose seizures will prove to be refractory should be
identified as early as possible, and thus the need for new prognostic facto
rs of intractable epilepsy is evident. The aim of the study was to investig
ate predictors of seizure outcome in a multivariate analysis. Neurological,
electroencephalography (EEG) and neuropsychological variables were analyze
d as potential predictors of epilepsy. Eighty-nine newly diagnosed adult pa
tients with partial epilepsy were, after a prospective 2-year follow-up per
iod, categorized into one of the two groups: patients with satisfactorily c
ontrolled epilepsy, and patients with refractory epilepsy. Six variables pr
edicted 2-year seizure outcome: presence of spike focus in EEG, partial com
plex or mixed seizure type, remote symptomatic etiology, moderately impaire
d memory performance in immediate recall and in delayed recognition of the
word list, and age at the time of diagnosis. The correct seizure outcome co
uld be predicted with the model in 94% of newly diagnosed epilepsy patients
. The presence of verbal memory impairment at the time of the diagnosis of
partial epilepsy is a significant predictor of seizure outcome and, togethe
r with clinical and EEG variables, it predicts seizure outcome in the major
ity of the patients. Memory performance as a prognostic factor is of most v
alue in patients with risk of refractory epilepsy and when used in a multid
isciplinary setting. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.