The factors associated with first antiepileptic drug response in patients with idiopathic epiepsy

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the risk factors associated with initial antiepileptic drug response in children newly diagnosed with idiopathic childhood absence epilepsy and benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes. Materials and Methods: One hundered and thirty one patient?s datas were analyzed for retrospective in this study. The study group consisted of 79 patients with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and 52 patients with childhood absence epilepsy. Results: In benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes group, the mean age of onset seizure was 89.44 ± 25.59 months (range: 36-143 months) and 50 (63.3%) were male. Treatment with first drug led to seizure freedom in 68 (86.1%) patients. Although age at onset of seizures, type of seizure, seizure frequency and focus in EEG were an important risk factors for response to first drug, sex, neonatal seizure, febrile convulsions, family history of epilepsy, time of seizure, Todd paralysis, presence of a behavior problems, ZB level, age at onset of therapy, generalization and localization in EEG were not significant. In childhood absence epilepsy group, the mean age was 78.38 ± 26.09 months (range: 30-142 months) and 32 (61.5%) were female. 42 patients (80.8%) were treated successfully for the first drug. There was no correlation between success of initial drug therapy and sex, neonatal seizure, febrile convulsions, family history of seizures, ZB level, age at onset of therapy, and type of discharge in EEG. However, age at onset of seizures, coexisting seizure types, and photoconvulsive response in EEG were significant the factors for response to initial treatment. Conclusion: Age at onset of seizures, type of seizure, seizure frequency and focus in EEG was found to be important factors in patients with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes. In patients with childhood absence epilepsy, age at onset of seizures, coexisting seizure types, and photoconvulsive response in EEG were important risk factors for response to initial treatment. Key words: Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, childhood absence epilepsy, first drug theraphy, response.