Impact of diagnostic delay on seizure outcome in newly diagnosed focal epilepsy.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

In the current study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic delay and the impact of diagnostic delay on seizure outcome in a cohort of newly diagnosed patients with focal epilepsy.

Methods

The study material was compiled from eight clinical antiseizure medication monotherapy trials conducted at Kuopio Epilepsy Center during 1995-2016. We analyzed the time from first seizure to diagnosis, the number of seizures before diagnosis, and the response to treatment at five years.

Results

Of the 176 patients (age range 15-75 years) in the cohort, 135 (77%) had had more than two seizures before treatment. The majority of these (79 patients, 45%) had had three to ten seizures. Median number of all seizures before diagnosis was 5 (range 2-2000). Focal aware seizures and foc

SUBMITTER: Parviainen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7733655 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature