title: Precipitating factors and therapeutic outcome in epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of precipitating factors and therapy on the outcome of epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of data from 34 patients (mean age at seizure onset 19 years; mean duration of follow-up 9.2 years) suffering from epilepsy of either cryptogenic or remote symptomatic (n = 19), or idiopathic (n = 15) etiology. The total number of seizures in all patients was 146.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Without treatment 97 seizures manifested during 90.5 years without treatment (1.07 seizures/year), during treatment with carbamazepine or valproate 49 seizures occurred within 224 years (0.2 seizures/year). The frequency of seizures was significantly lower during treatment. Precipitating factors were found in relation to 31% of seizures in patients with remote symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy, and for 51% of seizures in patients with idiopathic epilepsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a low frequency of seizures in patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Precipitating factors are common. Antiepileptic drug treatment is effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, FRG.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Saher
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Elger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003292:Convulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine