TY - JOUR
T1 - Stopping Medication in Children with Epilepsy
T2 - Predictors of Outcome
AU - Emerson, Ronald
AU - D'souza, Bernard J.
AU - Vining, Eileen P.
AU - Holden, Kenton R.
AU - Mellits, E. David
AU - Freeman, John M.
PY - 1981/5/7
Y1 - 1981/5/7
N2 - Anticonvulsant therapy was discontinued in 68 children with epilepsy who had had no seizures for four years, in an attempt to find the risk of relapse and the factors predictive of recurrence. In this population the probability of remaining free of seizures for four years after discontinuation of medication was 69 per cent. Children were more likely to have recurrent seizures if they were mentally retarded, if their seizures had begun before two years of age, if they had had many generalized seizures before control, or if they had had a definitely abnormal electroencephalogram before medication was discontinued. Multivariate analysis showed that the best predictors of outcome were the electroencephalogram taken at cessation of medication and the number of seizures before control. We conclude that in the normal child who has not had many seizures and whose electroencephalogram is normal or mildly abnormal, the risks of discontinuing medication after four seizure-free years are acceptable. (N Engl J Med. 1981; 304:1125–9.) THE use of anticonvulsants in children may be hazardous, but it is based on the premise that the risk of recurrent seizures outweighs the risk of adverse effects of medication. It would be highly desirable to define a point in the treatment of children with epilepsy at which medication1 could be withdrawn with minimal risk of recurrence of seizures. This study was undertaken not only to confirm reports that 75 per cent of children with epilepsy remain free of seizures without anticonvulsants if their seizures have been fully controlled for four years before discontinuation of medication,1 but also to identify. . .
AB - Anticonvulsant therapy was discontinued in 68 children with epilepsy who had had no seizures for four years, in an attempt to find the risk of relapse and the factors predictive of recurrence. In this population the probability of remaining free of seizures for four years after discontinuation of medication was 69 per cent. Children were more likely to have recurrent seizures if they were mentally retarded, if their seizures had begun before two years of age, if they had had many generalized seizures before control, or if they had had a definitely abnormal electroencephalogram before medication was discontinued. Multivariate analysis showed that the best predictors of outcome were the electroencephalogram taken at cessation of medication and the number of seizures before control. We conclude that in the normal child who has not had many seizures and whose electroencephalogram is normal or mildly abnormal, the risks of discontinuing medication after four seizure-free years are acceptable. (N Engl J Med. 1981; 304:1125–9.) THE use of anticonvulsants in children may be hazardous, but it is based on the premise that the risk of recurrent seizures outweighs the risk of adverse effects of medication. It would be highly desirable to define a point in the treatment of children with epilepsy at which medication1 could be withdrawn with minimal risk of recurrence of seizures. This study was undertaken not only to confirm reports that 75 per cent of children with epilepsy remain free of seizures without anticonvulsants if their seizures have been fully controlled for four years before discontinuation of medication,1 but also to identify. . .
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U2 - 10.1056/NEJM198105073041902
DO - 10.1056/NEJM198105073041902
M3 - Article
C2 - 7219445
AN - SCOPUS:0019498617
SN - 0028-4793
VL - 304
SP - 1125
EP - 1129
JO - New England Journal of Medicine
JF - New England Journal of Medicine
IS - 19
ER -