title: EEG frequency during spike-wave discharges may predict treatment outcome in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsies.
abstract: We report findings concerning the relationship between electroencephalography (EEG) frequency during spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) and response to treatment in 21 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). We studied patients whose EEG contained SWDs lasting at least 4 s. Among these patients, two groups could be distinguished on the basis of a subtle difference in EEG frequency during the first 2 s of the burst. The two groups differed markedly in their clinical response to medication, with the group becoming seizure-free during the next 1-2 years showing a spike-wave onset frequency of > 3.2 Hz, and those not seizure-free < 3.2 Hz (p = 0.0034, sensitivity 75% and specificity 92%). Given this strong effect in a relatively small group, further work is needed to clarify the predictive value of this frequency measure for clinical outcomes in absence epilepsies.
authors: Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Benjamin
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Colvin
authors: Moses
authors: M
authors: Kibuuka
authors: Gonzalo
authors: G
authors: Alarcón
authors: Mark P
authors: MP
authors: Richardson
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Terry
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants