HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Lack of efficacy of phenytoin in children presenting with febrile status epilepticus.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Fever is the most common precipitant of status epilepticus in children. Animal models suggest that only γ-aminobutyric acidic drugs are effective in the treatment of febrile seizures, but there is limited clinical evidence to support this.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of phenytoin, a sodium channel blocker, in the treatment of febrile status epilepticus in children.
METHODS:
This study is a retrospective chart review of 56 children (62 episodes) who presented to our emergency department with febrile status epilepticus and received phenytoin. The clinical parameters were evaluated by reviewing the charts. The efficacy of phenytoin was classified into 3 categories: positive, negative, and nonevaluable response.
RESULTS:
The primary outcome was to evaluate the efficacy rate of phenytoin; there were 9 (14.5%) of 62 episodes with a positive response, 25 (40.3%) with a negative response, and 28 (45.2%) with a nonevaluable response because phenytoin was given simultaneously with a γ-aminobutyric acidic (GABAergic) drug (P < .001). The secondary outcome was to measure the mean seizure duration for each treatment category, which were 52.8, 109.9, and 52.6 minutes, respectively (P < .01).
CONCLUSION:
Phenytoin is rarely effective in controlling febrile status epilepticus. Children exposed to phenytoin have more prolonged febrile seizures, increasing the risk of brain injury.
AuthorsSalima Ismail, Arielle Lévy, Helena Tikkanen, Marcel Sévère, Franciscus Johannes Wolters, Lionel Carmant
JournalThe American journal of emergency medicine (Am J Emerg Med) Vol. 30 Issue 9 Pg. 2000-4 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1532-8171 [Electronic] United States
PMID22381577 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
CopyrightCopyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Chemical References
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Phenytoin
Topics
  • Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Phenytoin (therapeutic use)
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seizures, Febrile (drug therapy)
  • Status Epilepticus (drug therapy)
  • Treatment Outcome

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: