title: Seizure frequency and social outcome in drug resistant epilepsy patients who do not undergo epilepsy surgery.
abstract: Little is known about the long term prognosis of refractory epilepsy patients who do not undergo epilepsy surgery. We performed a telephone survey and chart review of patients who underwent presurgical evaluation in our Unit but did not have surgery, from 1998 until 2004. We contacted 84 patients; mean follow-up was 6.7 years. Four patients (4.7%) had died, presumably of SUDEP. Ten patients (13.1%) were seizure free. In most patients with seizures, frequency remained stable (24/80, 30%) or had decreased by ≥50% (26 patients, 30.9%). Most patients (69, 86.2%) believed their health was similar or better respect to the moment they underwent presurgical evaluation. Employment situation was stable in 64/80 patients (80%), but 11 had received new disability wages. Family situation was also generally unchanged (69/80 patients, 86.2%). Most patients were not taking antidepressants. Seizure free patients scored higher in satisfaction with life. This information can be used to counsel refractory patients.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínic, c/Villarroel 170, Barcelona, Spain. mcarreno@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carreño
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Iratxe
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maestro
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donaire
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bargalló
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Setoain
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pintor
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bailles
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rumià
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boget
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vernet
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fumanal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants