title: Features of a subset of children with complex partial epilepsy requiring combination therapy for effective seizure control.
abstract: To identify children with complex partial seizures with increased risk for suboptimal seizure control with 1 medication, a computerized database containing all patients seen in the context of a single pediatric neurology practice was reviewed for patients with complex partial seizures. Participants included in analysis were then divided into groups; a group in whom seizure control was attained with a single medication (group 1) and a group for whom 2 or more medications were required for seizure control (group 2). Status epilepticus, developmental disabilities, and the presence of coexisting other seizures/types were also significantly different, with a higher predominance in group 2 children. Patients with status epilepticus, coexistent seizure types, and developmental disabilities should be identified and more carefully followed, with a lower threshold for starting these children on a combination of antiepileptic drugs adhered to.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal Children's Hospital-McGill University Health Center, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simard-Tremblay
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Shevell
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D019992:Databases as Topic; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants