Vigabatrin use in 72 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of a new anti-epileptic medication vigabatrin in adults and children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

DESIGN AND SETTING:

An open, uncontrolled study in a tertiary referral clinic setting with vigabatrin used as add-on therapy.

SUBJECTS:

All persons with intractable epilepsy, predominantly with complex partial seizures, with or without secondary generalization.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Outcome was assessed by the patient and physician in terms of reduction of seizure frequency and severity balanced against drug side effects.

RESULTS:

Of 72 patients studied, seven are seizure-free and a total of 41/72 (57%) continue to take vigabatrin as they are deriving benefit therefrom. The results were most striking in patients with complex partial seizures with, or without, secondary generalization (65.6 and 60.9% ongoing treatment, respectively). Most of the 31 patients who ceased taking vigabatrin did so due to a lack of effect, but 9/31 did so because of adverse events: behavioural change, increased seizure frequency and oedema.

CONCLUSIONS:

Vigabatrin has a definite role to play in the management of persons with intractable complex partial seizures where standard anti-epileptic therapy has failed to achieve control.

• Authors: N Buchanan
• Journal: Seizure (Seizure) Vol. 3 Issue 3 Pg. 191-6 (Sep 1994) ISSN: 1059-1311 [Print] England
• PMID: 8000713 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• Vigabatrin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Electroencephalography (drug effects)
• Epilepsies, Partial (drug therapy)
• Epilepsy (drug therapy)
• Epilepsy, Complex Partial (drug therapy)
• Epilepsy, Generalized (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Vigabatrin
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)