Clinical treatment of resistant epilepsy

The authors analysed 34 cases of resistant epilepsy (20 males and 14 females, mean age 23 years), treated clinically between February/1984 and May/1986. The patients underwent neurological, neuropsychological, psychological, psychiatric, cerebrospinal fluid, electroencephalographic, tomographic and/or angiographic examination. Most of the patients had complex partial seizures. The etiology was unknown in 19 patients (55.8%), probable neurocysticercosis in 6, perinatal hypoxia in 5, delivery trauma in 3 and probable sequelae of encephalitis in 2 patients. There was a clear past history of infantile febrile convulsion in 2 patients. Most patients received carbamazepine (mean dose 24.5 mg/kg/day), phenytoin (5 mg/kg and valproic acid (28 mg/kg) as monotherapy or in association. Twenty-two patients (64.7%) had more than 80% decrease of the seizure frequency. Nine resistant epilepsy-cases (24.5%) were evaluated as candidates for surgical therapy. The authors concluded that the resistant epilepsy is best managed by a specialised, multidisciplinary team, and pointed out the need of a correct diagnosis of the seizure type, an adequate drug therapy and a good engagement of the patient and his family in the treatment.Foram estudados 34 casos de epilepsia de difícil controle, encaminhados ao Grupo de Trabalho de Epilepsia (GTE) do Instituto de Neurologia de Goiânia de 1984 a 1986. Todos eram submetidos a reavaliação neurológica. Vinte e três dos 34 pacientes tinham crises parciais complexas. A maioria foi tratada com carbamazepina, difenil-hidantoína e ácido valpróico, em forma monoterápica ou associada entre si. Obteve-se redução de mais de 80% da freqüência das crises em 22 pacientes (64,7%), além de leve melhora da qualidade de vida. Os autores concluem sobre as vantagens de uma equipe especializada, multidisciplinar, na abordagem da epilepsia rebelde e ressaltam a necessidade de: a. um correto diagnóstico das crises, seguido do uso da medicação apropriada, por tempo suficiente (mínimo de 0 meses) e em dose adequada (até a dose máxima tolerável), abandonando-a só depois do controle de sua concentração sérica; b. um bom engajamento do paciente e de sua família no tratamento