[Aetiology and treatment of epilepsy in a series of 1,557 patients].
BACKGROUND
The aetiology of epilepsy is an important decisive factor in its treatment and prognosis. Diagnostic and therapeutic advances suggest that the causal distribution, treatment and prognosis of the population with epilepsy may have undergone some modification.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the distribution of syndromes, aetiology and pharmacological treatment in patients with epilepsy.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of patients with epilepsy who were treated consecutively in our epilepsy department. Demographic data were collected, together with information about syndromes, aetiology and pharmacological treatment at the time of eligibility. The data were analysed jointly and by age groups.


RESULTS
Altogether 1,557 patients were included, 54% of them males. Seventy-three per cent of the sample had focal epilepsy, which was secondary to a structural lesion in 56% of patients. Generalised epilepsies accounted for 20%. Five per cent were unclassifiable. By ages, vascular causation predominated in practically all the groups and its prevalence increased with age. The most commonly used antiepileptic drugs were valproic acid (29%), levetiracetam (27%) and carbamazepine (20%). Seventy per cent of the generalised epilepsies and 57% of the focal ones were on monotherapy treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence by age groups was similar to that reported in developed countries, although a lower prevalence of cryptogenic epilepsies was observed. More than 60% of patients followed monotherapy and valproic acid was the most widely used.
Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Espana.
Marta
M
Torres-Ferrús
Manuel
M
Toledo
Montserrat
M
González-Cuevas
Laia
L
Seró-Ballesteros
Esteban
E
Santamarina
Miquel
M
Raspall-Chaure
María
M
Sueiras-Gil
Roser
R
Cambrodí-Masip
Silvana
S
Sarria
José
J
Álvarez-Sabín
Javier
J
Salas-Puig
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000150:complications; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants