PMID: 11902328Mar 21, 2002Paper

Treatment of benign epilepsy syndromes throughout life

Epilepsia
L J Willmore

Abstract

Classification of epilepsy has been refined to a degree that begins to allow identification of syndromes that are benign, if not in clinical pattern, at least with regard to ultimate outcome. Infants, children, adolescents, and even adults, on occasion, develop seizures that challenge judgment regarding selection of drugs and duration of treatment. Childhood absence epilepsy tends to follow a benign course, with abatement of need for treatment in many patients. However, in approximately 40% of patients with onset of this syndrome, there is evolution to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), a form of seizure disorder that requires life-long treatment. One syndrome that is clearly almost always benign is benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). This clinical problem is defined by complaints, observations of behavior, and by a specific electroencephalographic pattern. Some patients are not treated; many undergo brief administration of medication. Infantile convulsive seizures that may be partial or with myoclonus tend to be familial and require treatment for 1 or 2 years. Time is required to make a decision about treatment because observation over time is required to be sure patients are developing normally, a hallmark of ...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 19, 2011·Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan Yi Zhi·Sook-Cheng Chan, Wang-Tso Lee
Jun 1, 2004·Pediatric Annals·Joshua L Goldstein

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