Treatment Response to Antiseizure Medications in People With Newly Diagnosed Focal Epilepsy

Can treatment response to antiseizure medication (ASM) in people with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy be quantified and predicted?In the Human Epilepsy Project cohort study, most patients with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy took longer than 1 year and more than 1 ASM to become seizure free. Treatment resistance occurred in almost one-quarter of patients and was identified earlier in those with very frequent seizures at baseline, and those with a history of psychiatric disorder(s) had a 1.8-fold increased risk of developing treatment resistance.Early identification of ASM failure may reduce time to seizure freedom; pretreatment seizure frequency and psychiatric comorbidities are important prognostic factors.

Corresponding Author: Sarah N. Barnard, MD, MIPH, Monash University School of Translational Medicine, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia (sarah.barnard@monash.edu).

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