Relapse after treatment withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs for juvenile absence epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Healy, Liam; Moran, Maria; Singhal, Sumeet; O'Donoghue, Michael F; Alzoubidi, Rania; Whitehouse, William P.

Abstract

Purpose
Conventional teaching is that juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) require lifelong antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. We therefore wanted to determine how many patients attending our epilepsy service with JAE or JME went into 2 year remission, and then relapsed, both off and on AEDs.

Method
This was a retrospective case-notes review. Patients with JAE and JME were systematically ascertained from clinic lists and databases at one teaching hospital. Data was extracted systematically. Simple descriptive statistics were used.

Results
JAE: 14/36 (39%) were seizure free on AEDs for at least 2 years. Of the 6 (43%) attempting AED withdrawal, all (100%) relapsed, compared with only 25% of those who did not withdraw AEDs. Only 2/5 who relapsed and restarted AEDs regained remission.

JME: 32/145 (22%) were seizure free on AEDs for at least 2 years. Of the 10 (31%) attempting AED withdrawal, 8 (80%) relapsed, compared with only 36% of those who did not withdraw AEDs. Only 2/8 who relapsed and restarted AEDs regained remission.

Conclusion
Remission rates for JAE and JME was lower than expected. Higher proportions of seizure free patients underwent physician-supervised withdrawal than anticipated. Relapse rates off AEDs were similar for JAE and JME, and at least twice as high as for those remaining on AEDs, and a further remission was not invariable on restarting AEDs. Our experience, comparing relapse in those withdrawing to those staying on AEDs will help in discussions with patients keen to try AED withdrawal.

Citation

Healy, L., Moran, M., Singhal, S., O'Donoghue, M. F., Alzoubidi, R., & Whitehouse, W. P. (2018). Relapse after treatment withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs for juvenile absence epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Seizure - European Journal of Epilepsy, 59, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2018.05.015

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 19, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 20, 2018
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: May 23, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 21, 2019
• Journal: Seizure
• Print ISSN: 1059-1311
• Electronic ISSN: 1059-1311
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 59
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2018.05.015
• Keywords: Absence seizures; Generalised seizures; Myoclonic epilepsy; Adolescent; Juvenile; adult; Antiepileptic drugs
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/961068
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059131118301328