ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to recognize the relapse rate and risk factors of relapse after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs in patients with benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes(BECT). METHODS: The subjects were 57 patients with BECT, who visited our hospital from January 1990 to December 2004. They were followed up for more than 24 months after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs. And they were analysed on the relapse rate and the factors that were presumed to influence the relapse. RESULTS: Seizures were relapsed in 7 of 57 patients(12.2%) after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs. Relapses were more frequent in patients who took antiepileptic drugs for seizure control more than 12 months(15.0%) than those who didn't(10.8%). Moreover, more relapses occurred to those who were at higher age at onset and who took antiepileptic drugs less than 36 months(100%). Furthermore, those who had abnormalities in EEG experienced more relapses(33.3%) than others. The relapse rate was not significantly different in the aspect of and sex seizure frequency after discontinuation of medication between relapsed and non-relapsed patients. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that we should consider the risk factors of relapse in patients with BECT in order to avoid relapse when discontinuing antiepileptic drugs. Moreover, further studies are needed to clarify the risk factors of relapse.