Prognosis
Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) syndromes tend to be quite responsive to medicine. Although the majority of CAE patients remit by adulthood, JME and JAE are likely to require lifelong treatment.
Epilepsy syndromes with atypical absence seizures, such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and epilepsy with myoclonic absences, are medically refractory and associated with severe intellectual disability.
Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE)
Remission has been estimated at about 65% by adolescence.[73] However, this is greatly affected by the diagnostic criteria. One study found a rate of remission as high as 82% using diagnostic criteria that allowed for the definition of a homogeneous group of patients.[74]
Juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE)
There are limited data due to this being a more recently described syndrome. Seizure control is attained in the majority of cases, estimated at up to 80% with valproic acid,[2] but remission may not be as high as in CAE. Treatment may be necessary for long periods of time.[75]
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME)
Although full remission is unlikely and most patients require lifelong treatment, the prognosis for seizure control is very good. Most patients remain neurologically normal.[75]
Epilepsy with myoclonic absences
Of the patients who are neurologically normal at presentation, approximately one half will develop cognitive problems. Absence seizures resolve after approximately 5 years, but other seizure types persist.[75]
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Seizures are generally medically refractory, despite the use of multiple medicines.[19] Patients are also severely neurologically impaired regardless of aetiology.[19]
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