Abstracts

Rationale: The UK National General Practice Study of Epilepsy was set up in the 80 s. It aims to follow-up an incident cohort of people with newly suspected or diagnosed epileptic seizures in the community, as most previous studies have clinic-based. In view of selection bias this may provide an erroneous view of outcome.Methods: 792 patients with definite or probable epilepsy and 220 with febrile seizures were registered with the study by their Family Physicians and they have been followed over time. Seizure outcome in these people was established via information provided by their family physicians. . We have now ascertained the current outcome of the cohort with particular reference to the impact of aetiology on long-term seizure outcome.Results: 301 (28%) have died. Long-term follow-up was obtained in 552 people. 81% of those originally classified as having idiopathic/cryptogenic epilepsy were in terminal remission (TR) (5 years or more seizure free) on or off AEDs at last follow-up compared to 78.6% of those with remote symptomatic epilepsy and 54.5% of those with epilepsy secondary to a congenital deficit. Conclusions: The impact of aetiology on seizure prognosis seen in earlier analysis does not appear to persist with more prolonged follow-up. Further long-term prospective studies are needed to verify this finding.