Reduction of secondarily generalized tonic-clonic (SGTC) seizures with pregabalin.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine whether pregabalin reduces SGTC seizures in clinically refractory epilepsy.

METHODS:

DESIGN:

Post hoc analysis performed on pooled data from three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of similar design.

PARTICIPANTS:

Patients with partial seizures who failed > or =2 antiepileptic drugs at maximally tolerated doses. This analysis excluded those who did not have an SGTC seizure during baseline or treatment periods.

OUTCOME MEASURE:

Absolute and conditional reduction analyses examined change from baseline in SGTC seizure rates. The absolute reduction analysis used response ratio (RRatio) to compare reduction in seizure-frequency from baseline (B) during a 12-week treatment (T) period [RRatio=((T-B)/(T+B))x100]. The conditional analysis examined proportional risk of having SGTC seizure if a partial seizure had occurred.

RESULTS:

Of 1052 intent-to-treat patients, 409 were included. Sixteen were seizure-free during treatment and not included in the conditional analysis. A significant reduction in absolute SGTC seizures from baseline was observed in patients receiving pregabalin 600 mg/day (treatment RRatio, -33 versus placebo, -3.7; P=0.0005). A lower dose of pregabalin (300mg/day), administered in one study, demonstrated a trend (nonsignificant) toward reduced SGTC seizures (treatment, -24.7 versus placebo, -10.0; P=0.2493).

CONCLUSION:

As adjunctive therapy, pregabalin 600 mg/day is effective in reducing the absolute frequency of SGTC seizures in patients with refractory partial epilepsy, but not secondary generalization.

• Authors: Deborah E Briggs, Caroline M Lee, Katharyn Spiegel, Jacqueline A French
• Journal: Epilepsy research (Epilepsy Res) Vol. 82 Issue 1 Pg. 86-92 (Nov 2008) ISSN: 1872-6844 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 18752932 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Pregabalin
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Topics

• Anticonvulsants (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Resistance, Multiple
• Epilepsies, Partial (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Multicenter Studies as Topic (statistics & numerical data)
• Pregabalin
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic (statistics & numerical data)
• Salvage Therapy
• Seizures (etiology, prevention & control)
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)