Epilepsy prognosis

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Epilepsy prognosis. New onset epilepsy, Idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Indicators of good epilepsy prognosis

  • New onset epilepsy
  • Idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy
  • Low seizure frequency before treatment (seizure density)
  • Absence of neurological deficits
  • Early commencement of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) after first seizure
  • Good early treatment response

Indicators of poor epilepsy prognosis

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Mortality indicators

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References

  1. Kwan P, Sander JW. The natural history of epilepsy: an epidemiological view. JNNP 2004; 75:1376-1381.
  2. Shorvon SD, Goodridge DM. Longitudinal cohort studies of the prognosis of epilepsy: contribution the National General Practice Study of Epilepsy and other studies. Brain 2013; 136:3497-3510. 
  3. Sillanpää M, Schmidt D. Long-term outcome of medically treated epilepsy. Seizure 2017; 44:211-216.
  4. Ménétré E, Stefano PD, Megevand P, et al. Antiseizure medication ≤48 hours portends better prognosis in new-onset epilepsy. Eur J Neurol 2024; 31:e16107. 
  5. Camfield P, Camfield C, Arts WF, Brouwer OF, Arzimanoglou A. The outcome of childhood epilepsy: what improvements are needed? Epileptic Disord 2013; 15:101-104.
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