Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsEdge :

2008 MAY 12 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Seizure outcome in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) that was evaluated according to a noninvasive protocol was assessed in 165 patients and reported using both Engel's and ILAE classifications (see also Epilepsy). The mean postoperative follow-up was 5.0 +/- 2.7 years," scientists in Istanbul, Turkey report.

"At the end of first year, 77.1% of patients were in Engel-I, and 52.7% were in ILAE-I. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were discontinued in 41 patients (42.7%), all remained seizure-free for >= 2 years that could be accepted as ''cure.'' Thirty-six patients had recurrences, 19 had running-down phenomena. Anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) was performed in 27 patients with a better outcome when compared to patients operated by selective anterior hippocampectomy," wrote C. Ozkara and colleagues, Istanbul University, Medical Department.

The researchers concluded: "Clinical risk factors for better and worse outcome, which show some similarity in different reports, seem to veil the main reason, which is the accurate delineation of epileptogenic zone considering the presence of different subgroups and underlying developmental pathologies."

Ozkara and colleagues published their study in Epilepsia (Surgical outcome of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampal sclerosis. Epilepsia, 2008;49(4):696-699).

For more information, contact C. Ozkara, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty Medical, Dept. of Neurology, TR-34098 Istanbul, Turkey.

Publisher contact information for the journal Epilepsia is: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.

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