Seizure and social outcomes in patients with non-surgically treated temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the seizure outcome with medical treatment in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and its associated factors. We also investigated the social outcome of the patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of a prospectively built electronic database of patients with epilepsy. All patients with a diagnosis of TLE were studied at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, from 2008 until 2019. In a phone call to the patients, at least 24 months after their diagnosis at our center, we investigated their current seizure control and social status.

RESULTS

Two hundred and twenty-two patients were studied; 101 patients (45.5%) were seizure free. A lower number of the prescribed drugs was the only factor with a significant association with the seizure-free outcome (Odds Ratio: 1.460; p = 0.001). At the time of the phone call, 76 patients (37.6%) reported having a college education, 103 patients (51%) were employed, 146 patients (72.3%) were married, and 81 patients (40%) reported driving a motor vehicle. The employment status, college education, and driving a motor vehicle were significantly associated with a seizure-free outcome status. The social achievements of the patients, who were partially responsive to medical therapy, were significantly worse than those who were seizure free.

CONCLUSION

Many patients with TLE may suffer from drug-resistant seizures. Ongoing seizures in these patients may affect their social lives substantially. Seizure reduction (not freedom) is not good enough to help the patients with TLE enjoy a healthy life with satisfactory social achievements.