ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUG WITHDRAWAL IN CHILDHOOD: DOES THE DURATION OF TAPERING OFF MATTER FOR SEIZURE RECURRENCE?
Abstract number :
1.399
Submission category :
Year :
2003
Submission ID :
3760
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2003, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Jessica G. Serra, Maria A. Montenegro, Marilisa M. Guerreiro Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
There is no consensus on how long should be the duration of the AED withdrawal after seizure control. The objective of the present study is to verify if the duration of tapering off matters for seizure recurrence in children with controlled epilepsy.
This was a prospective study conducted at the pediatric epilepsy clinic of our University Hospital from 1995 to 2001. All patients met the inclusion criteria consisting of diagnosis of epilepsy and seizures controlled by AED for at least two years. Those with infantile spasms and neonatal seizures were excluded. Patients were randomized to taper the AED during a period of either one or six months. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, t- Student and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis curve.
Fifty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria, 24 were girls, ages ranged from 2 to 16 years (mean= 9.45). All patients were taking only one AED when drug withdrawal began. There was no difference between the two groups according to age, gender, type of epileptic syndrome, EEG abnormality, and AED (p[gt]0.05). In the one month taper off group, seizure recurred in 10 patients; as opposed to 12 in the 6 months taper off group. The follow up period ranged from 6 months to 4 years and 3 months (mean= 25 months). The analysis of seizure recurrence in each group showed no difference (p[gt]0.05).
We conclude that the duration of AED tapering off does not influence the risk of seizure recurrence in childhood.
[Supported by: FAPESP]