Prognosi del Piccolo Male-assenze tipiche. Studio di follow-up su 60 casi. [Prognosis of pure petit mal. Follow-up study of 60 cases]

A follow-up study of 60 patients affected with typical PM absence has been carried-out. According to the evolution of the disease, the patients have been classified into two main groups: a) those with good prognosis, i.e. with complete disappearance of the absences and b) those with bad prognosis, i.e. with persistence of the absences with/without occurrence of GM seizures. Sex and age of the patients, duration of the disease, time-span from the onset of the seizures to the clinical evaluation in this Department, length of the follow-up were taken into account. Other parameters contributing to figure out the possible evolution and thus to preview the prognosis were analyzed too: they were EEG data, familiarity for epilepsy, previous febrile convulsions, results of both neuromotor and psychological developmental evaluation, eventual acquired factors, occurrence of GM seizures, pharmacological treatment. According to this study, the following parameters suggest a good prognosis: occurrence of the absences before the age of 7, prompt response to treatment leading to the disappearance of the absences, no GM seizures, normal mental development. On the contrary, unfavorable prognosis is supported by late onset of the absences, inconsistent results with the pharmacological treatment, persistence of more or less frequent absences, EEG abnormalities, occurrence of GM seizures, previous febrile convulsions, mental defects.