Timing discontinuation of antiepileptic treatment in childhood epilepsies--the role of the sleep deprivation EEG: a preliminary study.
Sleep deprivation EEGs can help us in timing discontinuation of antiepileptic treatment of childhood epilepsy. After 3-5 seizure-free years, a negative sleep deprivation EEG (i.e., the lack of any epileptiform potentials) is a good predictor of terminal remission of the seizures after cessation of the drug. In the drug-free follow-up period (in average 2 years) only 2/40 patients relapsed, 38/40 (= 95 percent) remained free of seizures. The results and limits of the study as well as the theoretical background are discussed briefly.
Clemens
B
B
County Hospital, Neurology Unit, Debrecen, Hungary.
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000187:drug effects*
D000927:Anticonvulsants