title: Rolandic paroxysmal epilepsy: a long term study in 150 children.
abstract: 150 children with Rolandic paroxysmal epilepsy (RPE) aged 3 to 12 years were followed up clinically and by EEG for 16 years. Antiepileptic drugs were administered initially for 2 years and then suspended for 6-12 months. Treatment was resumed in the 29 patients who had seizures during the drug-free interval and was maintained for a further 5 years. 80.6% of all patients were in clinical remission after the 2-year treatment period. Some patients had seizures while on drugs, others during the drug-free interval. Seizure frequency declined with age. No seizures occurred after the age of 14 or in the 8 years following final discontinuation of drug therapy. The need for prolonged drug treatment is therefore questioned.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Romanis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feliciani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants