title: The prognosis of idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
abstract: Prognosis describes the trajectory and long-term outcome of a condition. Most studies indicate a better prognosis in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) in comparison with other epilepsy syndromes. Studies looking at the long-term outcome of different IGE syndromes are relatively scant. Childhood absence epilepsy appears to have a higher rate of remission compared to juvenile absence epilepsy. In absence epilepsies, development of myoclonus and generalized tonic-clonic seizures predicts lower likelihood of remission. Although most patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) achieve remission on antiepileptic drug therapy, <20% appear to remain in remission without treatment. Data on the prognosis of other IGE syndromes are scarce. There are contradictory findings reported on the value of electroencephalography as a predictor of prognosis. Comparisons are made difficult by study heterogeneity, particularly in methodology and diagnostic criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. udaya.seneviratne@svhm.org.au
authors.forename: Udaya
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Seneviratne
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Wendyl
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: D'Souza
mesh_terms: D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis