Intractable epilepsy

Abstract

In both community practices and academic centers caring for children with epilepsy, it is not uncommon for 10-30% of patients to have seizures that defy control with standard anticonvulsant drugs. Who are these children? In a study by Berg, intractable seizures occurred more commonly in patients with cryptogenic or symptomatic generalized syndromes (e.g., Lennox-Gastaut). In addition, the presence of focal slowing on electroencephalogram (EEG), high initial seizure frequency, and either acute symptomatic or neonatal status epilepticus were positively correlated with an increased likelihood of having intractable epilepsy.