Status epilepticus after the initial diagnosis of epilepsy in children.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk and predictors of status epilepticus in children after they have been diagnosed with epilepsy. METHODS: In a prospective community-based cohort study of 613 children, the occurrence of status epilepticus after the initial diagnosis of epilepsy was ascertained. Parents were called every 3 months, and interval medical records were reviewed every 6 months. Predictors of primary interest included a history of status before the diagnosis of epilepsy, age at onset, underlying etiology, and epilepsy syndrome. Data were analyzed with chi2 tests, Kaplan-Meier analyses, and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Of 613 children followed a median of 8.0 years, 58 (9.5%) had > or =1 episode of status epilepticus during follow-up evaluation. The first episode occurred a median of 2.5 years after initial diagnosis (range, <1 month to 8.8 years). A history of previous status epilepticus was strongly associated with subsequent status epilepticus (18/56 [32.1%] vs 40/557 [7.2%]; p < 0.0001). Younger age at onset and symptomatic etiology contributed independently to the risk of status epilepticus. Mortality was higher in children with status epilepticus before diagnosis, largely secondary to underlying cause. CONCLUSIONS: Status epilepticus occurs in approximately 10% of children after initial diagnosis of epilepsy. Status epilepticus before initial diagnosis, young age at onset, and symptomatic etiology independently influence the risk of status epilepticus. In those without status epilepticus before diagnosis, the risk is modest and is realized over a prolonged period. For children at highest risk, maintaining abortive therapy in the home may be a reasonable precaution.

Initial outcomes in the Multicenter Study of Epilepsy Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain prospective data regarding seizures, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes after resective epilepsy surgery. METHODS: The authors characterized resective epilepsy surgery patients prospectively at yearly intervals for seizure outcome, QOL, anxiety, and depression, using standardized instruments and patient interviews. RESULTS: Of 396 patients who underwent resective surgical procedures, 355 were followed for at least 1 year. Of these, 75% achieved a 1-year remission at some time during follow-up; patients with medial temporal (77%) were more likely than neocortical resections (56%) to achieve remission (p = 0.01). Relapse occurred in 59 (22%) patients who remitted, more often in medial temporal (24%) than neocortical (4%) resected patients (p = 0.02). QOL, anxiety, and depression all improved dramatically within 3 months after surgery (p < 0.0001), with no significant difference based on seizure outcome. After 3 months, QOL in seizure-free patients further improved gradually, and patients with seizures showed gradual declines. By 12 and 24 months, overall QOL and its epilepsy-targeted and physical health domains were significantly different in the two outcome groups. (Anxiety and depression scores also gradually diverged, with improvements in seizure-free and declines in continued seizure groups, but differences were not significant.) CONCLUSION: Resective surgery for treatment of epilepsy significantly reduces seizures, most strikingly after medial temporal resection (77% 1 year remission) compared to neocortical resection (56% 1 year remission). Resective epilepsy surgery has a gradual but lasting effect on QOL, but minimal effects on anxiety and depression. Longer follow-up will be essential to determine ultimate seizure, QOL, and psychiatric outcomes of epilepsy surgery.