The natural history of epilepsy in the era of new antiepileptic drugs and surgical treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To review the factors influencing prognosis of epilepsy in this era of antiepileptic drugs and surgical treatment.


METHODS
Systematic review of peer-reviewed literature.


RESULTS
The prognosis depends on many factors; aetiology, age of onset, number of seizures at onset, the natural history of the condition, and the influence of treatment. However, between 70 and 80% of people developing epilepsy will go into long-term remission, usually within the first 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Prognosis in epilepsy is the prospect of attaining complete seizure freedom once a pattern of recurrent epileptic seizures has been established. Well-designed prospective cohort studies using standard outcome measures need to be conducted, especially in non-Western cultures.
Sander
J W
JW
Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
D000927:Anticonvulsants