Rufinamide in refractory childhood epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To report on the first multicenter Italian experience with rufinamide as adjunctive drug in children, adolescents and young adults with refractory childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

METHODS:

Thirty-eight patients (19 males, 19 females), aged between 4 and 34 (mean 13.7 ± 8.3, median 12.5), all affected by different types of childhood-onset refractory epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, were treated with rufinamide as adjunctive drug for a mean period of 11.4 months (range 3-26 months).

RESULTS:

Fifteen of 38 patients (39.5%) had a ≥ 50% seizure reduction in countable seizures. Complete seizure freedom was achieved in one of these patients (2.6%). Three patients (7.9%) had a 25-49% seizure reduction, whilst seizure frequency remained unchanged in 15 (39.5%) and increased in five patients (13.1%). Eleven patients (28.9%) reported adverse side effects. Vomiting was reported in five patients (13.1%); drowsiness, decreased appetite and irritability with migraine manifested in other four patients. They were transient and mild in all cases.

CONCLUSION:

Rufinamide may be an effective and well-tolerated adjunctive drug for the treatment of refractory childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Rufinamide was most effective in patients with drop-attacks and (bi)frontal spike-wave discharges.

• Authors: G Coppola, S Grosso, E Franzoni, P Veggiotti, N Zamponi, P Parisi, A Spalice, F Habetswallner, A Fels, A Verrotti, A D'Aniello, S Mangano, A Balestri, P Curatolo, A Pascotto
• Journal: European journal of neurology (Eur J Neurol) Vol. 18 Issue 2 Pg. 246-251 (Feb 2011) ISSN: 1468-1331 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20666837 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
• Copyright: © 2010 The Author(s). European Journal of Neurology © 2010 EFNS.

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Triazoles
• rufinamide

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Brain Diseases (complications, drug therapy)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Epilepsy (drug therapy, etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Triazoles (therapeutic use)
• Young Adult