Our study was characterized by a retrospective systematic data collection between 2003 and 2010 that lead to the inclusion of a total of 75 patients, with epilepsia partialis continua at Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand. All of the patients received brain CT scans or MRIs after diagnosis with EPC. Basic laboratory investigations including blood sugar, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, electrolyte, calcium, liver function, and complete blood count tests were performed. Additionally, routine electroencephalography were performed and antiepileptic drugs were given to all patients. Therapeutic outcomes and the degree of seizure control after discharge were determined by the functional status and Seizure Frequency Scoring Systems, respectively.
All of our patients manifested as motor EPC. The mean duration of EPC was 6.2 days (range 1-30 days) and the most frequent distribution of EPC involved the face and arms (42.7%). Hyperglycemia was the most common cause of EPC (34 patients, 45.3%). Fifty-one patients had an excellent outcome and 24 patients had a non-excellent outcome. All of the patients with hyperglycemia had an excellent outcome and required no antiepileptics in the long term. Predictors of excellent outcome in the scoring system for seizure frequency were metabolic or hyperglycemia-induced EPC, monotherapy and duration of EPC.
The characteristics of epilepsia partialis continua in this study were different from those of EPC in Western countries. Its most common cause was hyperglycemia and prognostic factors depended on etiology, number of AEDs, and duration of EPC.