Outcome of seizures in the first year of life.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and natural history of seizures having an onset during the first year of life.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of the files of all patients treated in the paediatric neurology clinic of our medical centre during 1975-1995.


RESULTS
Of our 482 patients with seizure onset prior to age 16 years, the first seizure occurred at age 1-12 months in 80 (16.6%). Of those, 38 (48%) had West syndrome and the rest were classified as follows--partial seizures with or without secondary generalization: 19%, generalized tonic seizures: 8.5%, generalized tonic-clonic seizures: 7.5%, myoclonic: 7.5%, unclassified: 7.5%, and mixed-type seizures: 2%. Follow-up was possible in 91% of the patients. Mean follow-up period from seizure onset was 10 years. Of the non-West syndrome patients who were followed, 19 (50%) were still experiencing seizures at follow-up. Eleven of the 15 patients (73%) with partial seizures and four of the 13 patients (31%) with generalized tonic or tonic-clonic seizures had symptomatic seizures. Of the 14 followed patients with partial seizures, 10 (71%) still had seizures at follow-up, as did three (25%) of the 12 followed patients with generalized tonic or tonic-clonic seizures (p = 0.023).


CONCLUSIONS
The partial seizures were most often symptomatic with unfavourable prognosis, while the generalized seizures were either symptomatic and severe or cryptogenic and rapidly responsive to anti-epileptic drugs with good outcome.
Kramer
U
U
Institute for Child Development, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Phatal
A
A
Neufeld
M Y
MY
Leitner
Y
Y
Harel
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants