title: Terminal remission is possible in some patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy without therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is considered to be a chronic disease requiring lifelong antiepileptic treatment. The aim of this study was both to identify factors predicting the kind of seizure control and to investigate the outcome in patients after therapy withdrawal.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 87 patients (49 female, 38 male), aged from 17.5 to 43.5 years, referred to our Department between 1987 and 2008, with the seizure onset at the age of 14.3±2.9, and followed up for 13.3±5.8 years on average (from 5 to 23 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty seven (77.0%) patients were fully controlled; whereas 13.8% had persistent seizures and 9.2% showed pseudoresistance. The combination of three seizure types and focal electroencephalogram features were independent factors of poor seizure control. Therapy was discontinued in 34 patients either by the treating physician (in 21 patients) or by the patients themselves (in 13 cases). In 18 subjects, all seizure types relapsed after 1.1 year on average (from 7 days to 4 years) and therapy was resumed in them. All patients but three (10/13), who stopped the treatment themselves, experienced recurrences. Seizure freedom off drugs was recorded in 10.3% patients. Nonintrusive myoclonic seizures recurred in 0.5-3 years as their only seizure type in four patients, but without reintroducing medication in three patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination of seizure types and focal electroencephalogram features are significant factors of pharmacoresistancy. Continuous pharmacotherapy is required in majority of patients, although about 10% of them appear to have permanent remission without therapy in adolescence.
authors: Nebojša J
authors: NJ
authors: Jović
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Kosać
authors: Miloš D
authors: MD
authors: Babić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020190:Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants