Most People With Focal Epilepsy Take Over a Year to Be Seizure Free
Source: JAMA neurology
Summary
Researchers studied how well antiseizure medications (ASMs) work for people who have recently been diagnosed with focal epilepsy. The study involved 448 participants aged 12 to 60 years from various epilepsy centers in the US, Australia, and Europe. They were followed for up to six years after starting treatment to see how many became seizure-free and how quickly.
The findings showed that about 60% of participants achieved seizure freedom, with many doing so without experiencing a relapse. Most of those who responded well to treatment did so with just one medication. However, a significant number of participants continued to have seizures during the first year of treatment, and those who had frequent seizures before starting treatment were more likely to struggle with medication. Additionally, individuals with psychological disorders were found to be at a higher risk of not responding to treatment.
These results are important because they help doctors understand how to predict which patients might respond well to treatment and which might need more support. However, the study also has limitations, such as the fact that it only included people with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy and may not apply to everyone with epilepsy. Understanding these factors can help improve treatment plans and outcomes for individuals with epilepsy.
