Seizure freedom off antiepileptic drugs after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

Data are limited on seizure recurrence after antiepileptic drug (AED) discontinuation in operated seizure-free patients. We reviewed seizure outcome in patients who came off AEDs after being seizure-free for 2 years following temporal lobe surgery in our center. Thirty-nine (68%) of 57 patients who discontinued AED therapy remained seizure-free. They had a younger age at surgery than the group with seizure recurrence (p = 0.01). Earlier surgery may be a favorable predictor for seizure freedom after AED discontinuation. (C) 2006 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. AR rights reserved.