Key Risk Factors for Seizure Return After Medication Withdrawal
Summary
Researchers studied the risk factors that could lead to seizures returning in children with epilepsy after they stopped taking their anti-seizure medications (ASMs). The study involved 135 children under the age of 16 who had been seizure-free for at least two years while on stable doses of ASMs. These children were monitored for at least one year after they stopped their medications to see if their seizures returned.
The main finding of the study was that about 31% of the children experienced a return of seizures after stopping their medications. The researchers identified three key factors that increased the likelihood of seizures coming back: having an abnormal EEG before stopping medication, being on multiple ASMs before withdrawal, and having a history of epilepsy that lasted more than one year before treatment. The risk of recurrence was significantly higher for those with these factors.
This information is important because it helps doctors and families understand which children might be at greater risk for seizures returning after stopping medication. However, it is essential to note that this study was observational and involved a relatively small group of children. More research is needed to confirm these findings and to explore other potential factors that could influence seizure recurrence.
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