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

Background: 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 ۲۰۰۸ until ۲۰۱۹. In a phone call to the patients, at least ۲۴ 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, ۱۰۱ patients (۴۵.۵%) 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: ۱.۴۶۰, p = ۰.۰۰۱). At the time of the phone call, ۷۶ patients (۳۷.۶%) reported having a college education, ۱۰۳ patients (۵۱%) were employed, ۱۴۶ patients (۷۲.۳%) were married, and ۸۱ patients (۴۰%) 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.

Keywords:

Epilepsy , Temporal lobe , Seizure , Outcome , Social.