title: Long term prognosis of juvenile absence epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) is a generalized form of epilepsy, characterized by absence seizures (AS) initiated in adolescence, with a typical EEG showing generalized spike-wave discharges. Apart from absences, other seizure types may be observed such as myoclonia and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS). Its long-term prognosis is uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively selected all patients who met the 1989 ILAE diagnostic criteria for JAE. We analysed clinical variables, pharmacological treatment, and seizure remission with medical treatment and seizure relapse after stopping medical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 21 patients, 17 women and 4 men, 86% of whom had suffered GTCS and 14% myoclonias. Mean age at AS onset was 17 years old (range 10-44), 4 patients debuted with AS in adulthood. Mean follow up duration was 25 years (range 10-43). Ninety per cent of the patients were treated with valproate and 62% needed polytherapy. Currently 43% have achieved seizure freedom under medical treatment. All attempts to stop treatment failed, in some cases after long periods of seizure remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Less than fifty per cent of patients with JAE achieve remission, antiepileptic treatment is mandatory during all life, despite having long periods of remission.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Neurologia, Hospital de Sant Boi, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 　37785mam@comb.cat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aiguabella Macau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falip Centellas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veciana de Las Heras
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Climent Perín
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miró Lladó
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreno Gómez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elices Palomar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants