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Daniłowska K, Picheta N, Żyła D, Piekarz J, Zych K, Gil-Kulik P. New Pharmacological Therapies in the Treatment of Epilepsy in the Pediatric Population. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3567. [PMID: 38930098 PMCID: PMC11204858 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by abnormal brain neuron activity, predisposing individuals to seizures. The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) categorizes epilepsy into the following groups: focal, generalized, generalized and focal, and unknown. Infants are the most vulnerable pediatric group to the condition, with the cause of epilepsy development being attributed to congenital brain developmental defects, white matter damage, intraventricular hemorrhage, perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injury, perinatal stroke, or genetic factors such as mutations in the Sodium Channel Protein Type 1 Subunit Alpha (SCN1A) gene. Due to the risks associated with this condition, we have investigated how the latest pharmacological treatments for epilepsy in children impact the reduction or complete elimination of seizures. We reviewed literature from 2018 to 2024, focusing on the age group from 1 month to 18 years old, with some studies including this age group as well as older individuals. The significance of this review is to present and compile research findings on the latest antiseizure drugs (ASDs), their effectiveness, dosing, and adverse effects in the pediatric population, which can contribute to selecting the best drug for a particular patient. The medications described in this review have shown significant efficacy and safety in the studied patient group, outweighing the observed adverse effects. The main aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the current state of knowledge regarding the newest pharmacotherapy for childhood epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Daniłowska
- Student’s Scientific Society of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (K.D.); (N.P.); (D.Ż.); (J.P.); (K.Z.)
| | - Natalia Picheta
- Student’s Scientific Society of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (K.D.); (N.P.); (D.Ż.); (J.P.); (K.Z.)
| | - Dominika Żyła
- Student’s Scientific Society of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (K.D.); (N.P.); (D.Ż.); (J.P.); (K.Z.)
| | - Julia Piekarz
- Student’s Scientific Society of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (K.D.); (N.P.); (D.Ż.); (J.P.); (K.Z.)
| | - Katarzyna Zych
- Student’s Scientific Society of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (K.D.); (N.P.); (D.Ż.); (J.P.); (K.Z.)
| | - Paulina Gil-Kulik
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
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Cross JH, Benítez A, Roth J, Andrews JS, Shah D, Butcher E, Jones A, Sullivan J. A comprehensive systematic literature review of the burden of illness of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome on patients, caregivers, and society. Epilepsia 2024; 65:1224-1239. [PMID: 38456647 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Fully elucidating the burden that Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) places on individuals with the disease and their caregivers is critical to improving outcomes and quality of life (QoL). This systematic literature review evaluated the global burden of illness of LGS, including clinical symptom burden, care requirements, QoL, comorbidities, caregiver burden, economic burden, and treatment burden (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022317413). MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles that met predetermined criteria. After screening 1442 deduplicated articles and supplementary manual searches, 113 articles were included for review. A high clinical symptom burden of LGS was identified, with high seizure frequency and nonseizure symptoms (including developmental delay and intellectual disability) leading to low QoL and substantial care requirements for individuals with LGS, with the latter including daily function assistance for mobility, eating, and toileting. Multiple comorbidities were identified, with intellectual disorders having the highest prevalence. Although based on few studies, a high caregiver burden was also identified, which was associated with physical problems (including fatigue and sleep disturbances), social isolation, poor mental health, and financial difficulties. Most economic analyses focused on the high direct costs of LGS, which arose predominantly from medically treated seizure events, inpatient costs, and medication requirements. Pharmacoresistance was common, and many individuals required polytherapy and treatment changes over time. Few studies focused on the humanistic burden. Quality concerns were noted for sample representativeness, disease and outcome measures, and reporting clarity. In summary, a high burden of LGS on individuals, caregivers, and health care systems was identified, which may be alleviated by reducing the clinical symptom burden. These findings highlight the need for a greater understanding of and better definitions for the broad spectrum of LGS symptoms and development of treatments to alleviate nonseizure symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Helen Cross
- University College London National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Arturo Benítez
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeannine Roth
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Scott Andrews
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Drishti Shah
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Joseph Sullivan
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Sullivan J, Benítez A, Roth J, Andrews JS, Shah D, Butcher E, Jones A, Cross JH. A systematic literature review on the global epidemiology of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: Prevalence, incidence, diagnosis, and mortality. Epilepsia 2024; 65:1240-1263. [PMID: 38252068 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) are rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathies associated with seizure and nonseizure symptoms. A comprehensive understanding of how many individuals are affected globally, the diagnostic journey they face, and the extent of mortality associated with these conditions is lacking. Here, we summarize and evaluate published data on the epidemiology of DS and LGS in terms of prevalence, incidence, diagnosis, genetic mutations, and mortality and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) rates. The full study protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022316930). After screening 2172 deduplicated records, 91 unique records were included; 67 provided data on DS only, 17 provided data on LGS only, and seven provided data on both. Case definitions varied considerably across studies, particularly for LGS. Incidence and prevalence estimates per 100 000 individuals were generally higher for LGS than for DS (LGS: incidence proportion = 14.5-28, prevalence = 5.8-60.8; DS: incidence proportion = 2.2-6.5, prevalence = 1.2-6.5). Diagnostic delay was frequently reported for LGS, with a wider age range at diagnosis reported than for DS (DS, 1.6-9.2 years; LGS, 2-15 years). Genetic screening data were reported by 63 studies; all screened for SCN1A variants, and only one study specifically focused on individuals with LGS. Individuals with DS had a higher mortality estimate per 1000 person-years than individuals with LGS (DS, 15.84; LGS, 6.12) and a lower median age at death. SUDEP was the most frequently reported cause of death for individuals with DS. Only four studies reported mortality information for LGS, none of which included SUDEP. This systematic review highlights the paucity of epidemiological data available for DS and especially LGS, demonstrating the need for further research and adoption of standardized diagnostic criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Sullivan
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Arturo Benítez
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeannine Roth
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals International, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Scott Andrews
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Drishti Shah
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - J Helen Cross
- University College London, National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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Nightscales R, Chen Z, Barnard S, Auvrez C, Tao G, Sivathamboo S, Bennett C, Rychkova M, D'Souza W, Berkovic SF, Nicolo J, O'Brien TJ, Perucca P, Scheffer IE, Kwan P. Applying the ILAE diagnostic criteria for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in the real-world setting: A multicenter retrospective cohort study. Epilepsia Open 2024; 9:602-612. [PMID: 38135919 PMCID: PMC10984283 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is an archetypal developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, for which novel treatments are emerging. Diagnostic criteria for LGS have recently been defined by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). We aimed to apply these criteria in a real-world setting. METHODS We applied ILAE diagnostic criteria to a cohort of patients diagnosed with LGS by epileptologists following inpatient video-EEG monitoring (VEM) at tertiary comprehensive epilepsy centers between 1995 and 2015. We also assessed mortality in this cohort. RESULTS Sixty patients diagnosed with LGS and had complete records available for review were identified. Among them, 29 (48%) patients met ILAE diagnostic criteria for LGS (ILAE-DC group). Thirty-one did not meet criteria (non-ILAE-DC) due to the absence of documented tonic seizures (n = 7), EEG features (n = 12), or both tonic seizures and EEG features (n = 10), intellectual disability (n = 1), or drug resistance (n = 1). The ILAE-DC group had a shorter duration of epilepsy at VEM than the non-ILAE-DC group (median = 12.0 years vs. 23.7 years, respectively; p = 0.015). The proportions of patients with multiple seizure types (100% vs. 96.7%), ≤2.5 Hz slow spike-and-wave EEG activity (100% vs. 90%), seizure-related injuries (27.6% vs. 25.8%), and mortality (standardized mortality ratio 4.60 vs. 5.12) were similar between the groups. SIGNIFICANCE Up to 52% of patients diagnosed with LGS following VEM may not meet recently accepted ILAE criteria for LGS diagnosis. This may reflect both the limitations of retrospective medical record review and a historical tendency of applying the LGS diagnosis to a broad spectrum of severe, early-onset drug-resistant epilepsies with drop attacks. The ILAE criteria allow the delineation of LGS based on distinct electroclinical features, potentiating accurate diagnosis, prognostication, and management formulation. Nonetheless, mortality outcomes between those who did and did not meet ILAE diagnostic criteria for LGS were similarly poor, and both groups suffered high rates of seizure-related injury. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY More than half of patients diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) at three Australian epilepsy monitoring units between 1995 and 2015 did not meet the recently devised International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) diagnostic criteria for LGS. Mortality was equally high in those who did and did not meet the ILAE diagnostic criteria, and seizure-related injury was common. The ILAE diagnostic criteria will guide accurate diagnosis, management, prognostication, and research in patients with LGS, however may be limited in their practical application to patients with a longer duration of epilepsy, or to those for whom detailed assessment is difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Nightscales
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyAlfred HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Zhibin Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Preventive MedicineMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medicine (The Royal Melbourne Hospital)The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Sarah Barnard
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyAlfred HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Clarissa Auvrez
- NorthWestern Mental HealthMelbourne HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Gerard Tao
- Department of Medicine (The Royal Melbourne Hospital)The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Shobi Sivathamboo
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyAlfred HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medicine (The Royal Melbourne Hospital)The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyThe Royal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Caitlin Bennett
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Austin Health)The University of MelbourneHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
| | - Maria Rychkova
- Department of Medicine (The Royal Melbourne Hospital)The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Wendyl D'Souza
- Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's HospitalThe University of MelbourneFitzroyVictoriaAustralia
| | - Samuel F. Berkovic
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Austin Health)The University of MelbourneHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
- Bladin‐Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of NeurologyAustin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
| | - John‐Paul Nicolo
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyAlfred HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyThe Royal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Terence J. O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyAlfred HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medicine (The Royal Melbourne Hospital)The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyThe Royal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Piero Perucca
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyAlfred HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyThe Royal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Austin Health)The University of MelbourneHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
- Bladin‐Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of NeurologyAustin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ingrid E. Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (Austin Health)The University of MelbourneHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
- Bladin‐Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of NeurologyAustin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's HospitalFlorey and Murdoch Children's Research InstitutesMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Patrick Kwan
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical SchoolMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyAlfred HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medicine (The Royal Melbourne Hospital)The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyThe Royal Melbourne HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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Xu Y, Chen D, Liu L. Optimal dose of fenfluramine in adjuvant treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: evidence from randomized controlled trials. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1371704. [PMID: 38590719 PMCID: PMC10999678 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1371704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Several clinical trials have suggested that fenfluramine (FFA) is effective for the treatment of epilepsy in Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). However, the exploration of its optimal target dose is ongoing. This study aimed to summarize the best evidence to inform this clinical issue. Materials and methods We searched PubMed, Embase (via Ovid), and Web of Science for relevant literature published before December 1st, 2023. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of FFA in DS and LGS were identified and meta-analysis was performed according to doses. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023392454). Results Six hundred and twelve patients from four randomized controlled trials were enrolled. The results demonstrated that FFA at 0.2, 0.4, or 0.7 mg/kg/d showed significantly greater efficacy compared to placebo in terms of at least 50% reduction (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and at least 75% reduction (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, p < 0.001) in monthly seizure frequency from baseline. Moreover, significantly more patients receiving FFA than placebo were rated as much improved or very much improved in CGI-I by both caregivers/parents and investigators (p < 0.001). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were decreased appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss, with no valvular heart disease or pulmonary hypertension observed in any participant. For dose comparison, 0.7 mg/kg/d group presented higher efficacy on at least 75% reduction in seizure (p = 0.006) but not on at least 50% reduction. Weight loss (p = 0.002), decreased appetite (p = 0.04), and all-cause withdrawal (p = 0.036) were more common in 0.7 mg/kg/d group than 0.2 mg/kg/d. There was no statistical difference in other safety parameters between these two groups. Conclusion The higher range of the licensed dose achieves the optimal balance between efficacy, safety, and tolerability in patients with DS and LGS. Clinical trial registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023392454.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ling Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Na JH, Lee YM. Therapeutic outcome of patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I deficiency. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1305404. [PMID: 38529040 PMCID: PMC10962681 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1305404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a severe developmental epileptic encephalopathy, has various underlying causes. Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I (MRC I) deficiency is an important cause of metabolic disorders such as mitochondrial dysfunction that can compromise brain function, thereby causing intractable epilepsy, including LGS. Thus, it can be expected that the presence or absence of MRC I deficiency may affect the treatment outcome of patients with LGS. Objectives In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate differences in the epilepsy characteristics and treatment outcomes between patients with LGS with and without MRC I deficiency. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 92 patients with LGS. We divided 68 patients with LGS according to the presence (n = 30) or absence (n = 38) of MRC I deficiency and compared their epilepsy characteristics. Results Generalized tonic and drop seizures were significantly worse in patients with LGS and MRC I deficiency than in those without MRC I deficiency group at the 1-year follow-up (p < 0.001) and final follow-up 1 (p < 0.001). Patients with LGS and MRC I deficiency had significantly fewer electroencephalogram (EEG) improvements compared to those without MRC I deficiency at the 1-year follow-up (p = 0.031). Additionally, in the final follow-up period, patients with LGS and MRC I deficiency had significantly less improvement in EEG findings compared to patients without MRC I deficiency (p < 0.001). Conclusion The overall treatment prognosis-in terms of improvement in traumatic generalized tonic seizure, drop seizure, and EEG findings-is worse in patients with LGS and MRC I deficiency than that in patients with LGS but without MRC I deficiency. Additional and targeted treatment is required to treat LGS with MRC I deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Young-Mock Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Besag FMC, Vasey MJ, Chin RFM. Evaluating fenfluramine hydrochloride as an oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:235-249. [PMID: 38315124 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2313548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe childhood-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by treatment-refractory seizures, including tonic/atonic 'drop' seizures, and intellectual impairment and slow spike-wave discharges on the electroencephalogram. Fenfluramine, previously prescribed as a weight-loss drug but then withdrawn, has recently been approved in the US, EU, and UK for the adjunct treatment of seizures associated with LGS. AREAS COVERED The authors review the efficacy and safety findings from clinical trials of fenfluramine in LGS. The authors then discuss the evidence for adverse effects that may be of particular concern to fenfluramine, namely cardiac abnormalities, and weight loss, in the context of the use of fenfluramine for the treatment of the refractory seizures in LGS. EXPERT OPINION Fenfluramine has demonstrated efficacy in reducing the frequency of seizures in LGS, notably drop seizures, in short-term and long-term clinical trials. Valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension have not been reported at the low doses (≤26 mg/day) used in these studies, however, data are limited. Due to its novel mechanism of action, fenfluramine may be of benefit in LGS which has not responded adequately to other antiseizure medications. However, none of these medications, including fenfluramine, achieves the ultimate goal of seizure freedom in most cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank M C Besag
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), East London NHS Foundation Trust, Bedford, UK
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J Vasey
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), East London NHS Foundation Trust, Bedford, UK
| | - Richard F M Chin
- Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, UK
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Strzelczyk A, Becker H, Tako L, Hock S, Hattingen E, Rosenow F, Mann C. Fenfluramine for the treatment of status epilepticus: use in an adult with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and literature review. Neurol Res Pract 2024; 6:10. [PMID: 38383582 PMCID: PMC10882814 DOI: 10.1186/s42466-023-00306-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel treatments are needed to control refractory status epilepticus (SE). This study aimed to assess the potential effectiveness of fenfluramine (FFA) as an acute treatment option for SE. We present a summary of clinical cases where oral FFA was used in SE. METHODS A case of an adult patient with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) who was treated with FFA due to refractory SE is presented in detail. To identify studies that evaluated the use of FFA in SE, we performed a systematic literature search. RESULTS Four case reports on the acute treatment with FFA of SE in children and adults with Dravet syndrome (DS) and LGS were available. We report in detail a 30-year-old woman with LGS of structural etiology, who presented with generalized tonic and dialeptic seizures manifesting at high frequencies without a return to clinical baseline constituting the diagnosis of SE. Treatment with anti-seizure medications up to lacosamide 600 mg/d, brivaracetam 300 mg/d, valproate 1,600 mg/d, and various benzodiazepines did not resolve the SE. Due to ongoing refractory SE and following an unremarkable echocardiography, treatment was initiated with FFA, with an initial dose of 10 mg/d (0.22 mg/kg body weight [bw]) and fast up-titration to 26 mg/d (0.58 mg/kg bw) within 10 days. Subsequently, the patient experienced a resolution of SE within 4 days, accompanied by a notable improvement in clinical presentation and regaining her mobility, walking with the assistance of physiotherapists. In the three cases reported in the literature, DS patients with SE were treated with FFA, and a cessation of SE was observed within a few days. No treatment-emergent adverse events were observed during FFA treatment in any of the four cases. CONCLUSIONS Based on the reported cases, FFA might be a promising option for the acute treatment of SE in patients with DS and LGS. Observational data show a decreased SE frequency while on FFA, suggesting a potentially preventive role of FFA in these populations. KEY POINTS We summarize four cases of refractory status epilepticus (SE) successfully treated with fenfluramine. Refractory SE resolved after 4-7 days on fenfluramine. Swift fenfluramine up-titration was well-tolerated during SE treatment. Treatment-emergent adverse events on fenfluramine were not observed. Fenfluramine might be a valuable acute treatment option for SE in Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Strzelczyk
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Hendrik Becker
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lisa Tako
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susanna Hock
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Elke Hattingen
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Felix Rosenow
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Catrin Mann
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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De SK. Ganaxolone: First FDA-approved Medicine for the Treatment of Seizures Associated with Cyclin-dependent Kinase-like 5 Deficiency Disorder. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:388-392. [PMID: 36959132 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230320123952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The neurosteroids progesterone and allopregnanolone control numerous neuroprotective functions in neural tissues, including inhibition of epileptic seizures and cell death. Ganaxolone (3α-hydroxy-3β-methyl-5α-pregnan-20-one) (GNX) is the 3β- methylated synthetic analog of allopregnanolone and an allosteric GABAA positive modulator. Ganaxolone reduces the frequency of CDD-associated seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya K De
- Department of Chemistry, Conju-Probe, San Diego, CA, USA
- Bharath University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600126, India
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Schubert-Bast S, Kaur M, Joeres L, Foskett N, Roebling R, Strzelczyk A. Epidemiology of focal onset seizures in children aged >1 month to 4 years in Europe, United States, and Canada: A literature review. Seizure 2023; 112:88-97. [PMID: 37778299 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aims to report the currently available epidemiology of focal onset seizures in children aged >1 month to 4 years with the help of a literature review. The terms 'seizure*' OR 'epilepsy' combined with pediatric and epidemiology terms were used to search Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science up to November 16, 2021. Due to the scarcity of epidemiology data on focal onset seizures, the incidence and prevalence were estimated using the proportion of focal onset seizures in epilepsy patients from the most recently published articles. The estimated annual incidence per 100,000 children of focal onset seizures in children of 0-4 years of age ranged from 25.1 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 18.9-32.7) in the United Kingdom to 111.8 in the United States. The estimated period prevalence of focal onset seizures in children 0-4 years of age ranged from 0.15 % (99 % CI 0.13-0.18) in Canada to 0.61 % in the United States. Neurodevelopmental outcomes and psychiatric disorders were the most commonly reported comorbidities in children with epilepsy of age 0-4 years. Presence of focal onset seizures in children with different epilepsy syndromes needs to be thoroughly considered in the treatment planning of this population of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Schubert-Bast
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), Frankfurt am Main 60528, Germany; Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Department of Neuropediatrics, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt am Main 60590, Germany.
| | - Moninder Kaur
- UCB Pharma, 216 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 3WE, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Joeres
- UCB Biosciences GmbH, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 10, Monheim 40789, Germany
| | - Nadia Foskett
- UCB Pharma, 216 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 3WE, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Roebling
- UCB Biosciences GmbH, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 10, Monheim 40789, Germany
| | - Adam Strzelczyk
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Department of Neurology, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), Frankfurt am Main 60528, Germany
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11
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Dini G, Di Cara G, Ferrara P, Striano P, Verrotti A. Reintroducing Fenfluramine as a Treatment for Seizures: Current Knowledge, Recommendations and Gaps in Understanding. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:2013-2025. [PMID: 37790801 PMCID: PMC10543412 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s417676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the introduction of new anti-seizure medications in recent years, approximately one-third of the epileptic population continues to experience seizures. Recently, the anti-obesity medication fenfluramine (FFA) has been successfully repurposed, and it has received approval from various regulatory agencies for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The potential antiseizure effects of FFA were initially observed in patients with photosensitive epilepsy in the 1980s but it was not rigorously explored as a treatment option until 30 years later. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the historical progression of FFA's use, starting from initial clinical observations to preclinical studies and, ultimately, successful clinical trials in the field of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Dini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Ferrara
- Department of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto “G. Gaslini”, Genoa, Italy
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12
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Sills GJ. Pharmacological diversity amongst approved and emerging antiseizure medications for the treatment of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2023; 16:17562864231191000. [PMID: 37655228 PMCID: PMC10467199 DOI: 10.1177/17562864231191000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are rare neurodevelopmental disorders characterised by early-onset and often intractable seizures and developmental delay/regression, and include Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Rufinamide, fenfluramine, stiripentol, cannabidiol and ganaxolone are antiseizure medications (ASMs) with diverse mechanisms of action that have been approved for treating specific DEEs. Rufinamide is thought to suppress neuronal hyperexcitability by preventing the functional recycling of voltage-gated sodium channels from the inactivated to resting state. It is licensed for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS. Fenfluramine increases extracellular serotonin levels and may reduce seizures via activation of specific serotonin receptors and positive modulation of the sigma-1 receptor. Fenfluramine is licensed for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and LGS. Stiripentol is a positive allosteric modulator of type-A gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptors. As a broad-spectrum inhibitor of cytochrome P450 enzymes, its antiseizure effects may additionally arise through pharmacokinetic interactions with co-administered ASMs. Stiripentol is licensed for treating seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in patients taking clobazam and/or valproate. The mechanism(s) of action of cannabidiol remains largely unclear although multiple targets have been proposed, including transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, G protein-coupled receptor 55 and equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1. Cannabidiol is licensed as adjunctive treatment in conjunction with clobazam for seizures associated with Dravet syndrome and LGS, and as adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. Like stiripentol, ganaxolone is a positive allosteric modulator at GABAA receptors. It has recently been licensed in the USA for the treatment of seizures associated with cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 deficiency disorder. Greater understanding of the causes of DEEs has driven research into the potential use of other novel and repurposed agents. Putative ASMs currently in clinical development for use in DEEs include soticlestat, carisbamate, verapamil, radiprodil, clemizole and lorcaserin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme J. Sills
- School of Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Room 341, Sir James Black Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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13
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Chen CS, So EC, Wu SN. Modulating Hyperpolarization-Activated Cation Currents through Small Molecule Perturbations: Magnitude and Gating Control. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2177. [PMID: 37626674 PMCID: PMC10452073 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) exhibits a slowly activating time course of the current (Ih) when the cell membrane is hyperpolarized for an extended duration. It is involved in generating electrical activity in various excitable cells. Numerous structurally distinct compounds or herbal drugs have the potential to impact both the magnitude and gating kinetics of this current. Brivaracetam, a chemical analog of levetiracetam known to be a ligand for synaptic vesicle protein 2A, could directly suppress the Ih magnitude. Carisbamate, an anticonvulsant agent, not only inhibited the Ih amplitude but also reduced the strength of voltage-dependent hysteresis (Hys(V)) associated with Ih. Cilobradine, similar to ivabradine, inhibited the amplitude of Ih; however, it also suppressed the amplitude of delayed-rectifier K+ currents. Dexmedetomidine, an agonist of α2-adrenergic receptor, exerted a depressant action on Ih in a concentration-dependent fashion. Suppression of Ih amplitude was observed when GAL-021, a breathing control modulator, was present at a concentration exceeding 30 μM. Lutein, one of the few xanthophyll carotenoids, was able to suppress the Ih amplitude as well as to depress Hys(V)'s strength of Ih. Pirfenidone, a pyridine derivative known to be an anti-fibrotic agent, depressed the Ih magnitude in a concentration- and voltage-dependent fashion. Tramadol, a synthetic centrally active analgesic, was shown to reduce the Ih magnitude, independent of its interaction with opioid receptors. Various herbal drugs, including ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids from Croton tonkinensis, Ganoderma triterpenoids, honokiol, and pterostilbene, demonstrated efficacy in reducing the magnitude of Ih. Conversely, oxaliplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapeutic compound, was observed to effectively increase the Ih amplitude. Collectively, the regulatory effects of these compounds or herbal drugs on cellular function can be partly attributed to their perturbations on Ih.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shih Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 70965, Taiwan; (C.-S.C.); (E.C.S.)
| | - Edmund Cheung So
- Department of Anesthesia, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 70965, Taiwan; (C.-S.C.); (E.C.S.)
| | - Sheng-Nan Wu
- School of Medicine, National Sun Yat Sen University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Education & Research, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 70965, Taiwan
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan 701, Taiwan
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14
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Perversi F, Costa C, Labate A, Lattanzi S, Liguori C, Maschio M, Meletti S, Nobili L, Operto FF, Romigi A, Russo E, Di Bonaventura C. The broad-spectrum activity of perampanel: state of the art and future perspective of AMPA antagonism beyond epilepsy. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1182304. [PMID: 37483446 PMCID: PMC10359664 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1182304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamatergic neurons primarily compose basic neuronal networks, especially in the cortex. An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory activities may result in epilepsy or other neurological and psychiatric conditions. Among glutamate receptors, AMPA receptors are the predominant mediator of glutamate-induced excitatory neurotransmission and dictate synaptic efficiency and plasticity by their numbers and/or properties. Therefore, they appear to be a major drug target for modulating several brain functions. Perampanel (PER) is a highly selective, noncompetitive AMPA antagonist approved in several countries worldwide for treating different types of seizures in various epileptic conditions. However, recent data show that PER can potentially address many other conditions within epilepsy and beyond. From this perspective, this review aims to examine the new preclinical and clinical studies-especially those produced from 2017 onwards-on AMPA antagonism and PER in conditions such as mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, idiopathic and genetic generalized epilepsy, brain tumor-related epilepsy, status epilepticus, rare epileptic syndromes, stroke, sleep, epilepsy-related migraine, cognitive impairment, autism, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as provide suggestions on future research agenda aimed at probing the possibility of treating these conditions with PER and/or other AMPA receptor antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cinzia Costa
- Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Neurological Clinic, S. Maria Della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angelo Labate
- Neurophysiopatology and Movement Disorders Clinic, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Simona Lattanzi
- Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Claudio Liguori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Epilepsy Center, Neurology Unit, University Hospital “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Maschio
- Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, UOSD Neuro-Oncology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Meletti
- Neurology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio-Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Lino Nobili
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto G. Gaslini, Genova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Child and Maternal Health (DINOGMI), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesca Felicia Operto
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Andrea Romigi
- Sleep Medicine Center, Neurological Mediterranean Institute IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Psychology Faculty, International Telematic University Uninettuno, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilio Russo
- Department of Science of Health, School of Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carlo Di Bonaventura
- Epilepsy Unit, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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15
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Abstract
Fenfluramine (Fintepla®) is an oral anti-seizure medication (ASM) with a novel mechanism of action consisting of activity in the serotonergic system coupled with positive allosteric modulation effects at sigma-1 receptors. Originally approved for use at high doses as an appetite suppressant, it was subsequently withdrawn after being linked to valvular heart disease (VHD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), before being investigated for use at low doses as an adjunctive ASM in patients with developmental epileptic encephalopathies, including Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) who have pharmacoresistant seizures. In clinical trials, treatment with adjunctive fenfluramine markedly reduced convulsive seizure frequency in patients with DS that were sustained for up to 3 years, and reduced drop seizure frequency in patients with LGS that were sustained for up to 1 year. Notably, fenfluramine was also associated with clinically meaningful improvements in aspects of everyday executive functioning (EF) not entirely explainable by seizure reduction alone. Furthermore, it was generally well tolerated with, importantly, no reports of VHD or PAH. Thus, adjunctive fenfluramine is a novel and effective treatment for pharmacoresistant seizures associated with DS and LGS that may also improve aspects of everyday EF in some patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Frampton
- Springer Nature, Mairangi Bay, Private Bag 65901, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand.
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16
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Hung TY, Wu SN, Huang CW. Concerted suppressive effects of carisbamate, an anti-epileptic alkyl-carbamate drug, on voltage-gated Na + and hyperpolarization-activated cation currents. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1159067. [PMID: 37293624 PMCID: PMC10244622 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1159067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Carisbamate (CRS, RWJ-333369) is a new anti-seizure medication. It remains unclear whether and how CRS can perturb the magnitude and/or gating kinetics of membrane ionic currents, despite a few reports demonstrating its ability to suppress voltage-gated Na+ currents. In this study, we observed a set of whole-cell current recordings and found that CRS effectively suppressed the voltage-gated Na+ (INa) and hyperpolarization-activated cation currents (Ih) intrinsically in electrically excitable cells (GH3 cells). The effective IC50 values of CRS for the differential suppression of transient (INa(T)) and late INa (INa(L)) were 56.4 and 11.4 μM, respectively. However, CRS strongly decreased the strength (i.e., Δarea) of the nonlinear window component of INa (INa(W)), which was activated by a short ascending ramp voltage (Vramp); the subsequent addition of deltamethrin (DLT, 10 μM) counteracted the ability of CRS (100 μM, continuous exposure) to suppress INa(W). CRS strikingly decreased the decay time constant of INa(T) evoked during pulse train stimulation; however, the addition of telmisartan (10 μM) effectively attenuated the CRS (30 μM, continuous exposure)-mediated decrease in the decay time constant of the current. During continued exposure to deltamethrin (10 μM), known to be a pyrethroid insecticide, the addition of CRS resulted in differential suppression of the amplitudes of INa(T) and INa(L). The amplitude of Ih activated by a 2-s membrane hyperpolarization was diminished by CRS in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 38 μM. For Ih, CRS altered the steady-state I-V relationship and attenuated the strength of voltage-dependent hysteresis (Hys(V)) activated by an inverted isosceles-triangular Vramp. Moreover, the addition of oxaliplatin effectively reversed the CRS-mediated suppression of Hys(V). The predicted docking interaction between CRS and with a model of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel or between CRS and the hNaV1.7 channel reflects the ability of CRS to bind to amino acid residues in HCN or hNaV1.7 channel via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. These findings reveal the propensity of CRS to modify INa(T) and INa(L) differentially and to effectively suppress the magnitude of Ih. INa and Ih are thus potential targets of the actions of CRS in terms of modulating cellular excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Te-Yu Hung
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Nan Wu
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Wei Huang
- Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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17
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Wahab A, Iqbal A. Black-Box Warnings of Antiseizure Medications: What is Inside the Box? Pharmaceut Med 2023; 37:233-250. [PMID: 37119452 DOI: 10.1007/s40290-023-00475-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Antiseizure medications can cause serious adverse reactions and have deleterious drug interactions that often complicate the clinical management of patients. When the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to alert healthcare providers and patients about the risk of potentially serious or fatal drug reactions, the FDA requires the manufacturers of these medications to format these warnings within a "black-box" border, and prominently display this box on the first section of the package insert; such warnings are called "black-box warnings (BBWs)". The BBW is a way for the FDA to urge physicians to evaluate patients more rigorously and carefully weigh the risks and benefits, before prescribing medication that has the potential to cause serious adverse reactions, and to formulate a plan for close monitoring during therapy. The FDA BBW provides the extra layer of safety but many healthcare providers fail to comply with these warnings. Currently, there are 26 FDA-approved antiseizure medications in the US market, 38% of which have received BBWs, and most of the antiseizure medications with BBWs are older-generation drugs. Some antiseizure medications have multiple BBWs; for example, valproic acid has three BBWs including hepatotoxicity, fetal risk, and pancreatitis, carbamazepine has BBWs of serious skin and hematological reactions, and felbamate also has two BBWs including hepatic failure and aplastic anemia. The purpose of this review is to provide insight into each BBW received by antiseizure medications and discuss the FDA recommendations for evaluating the drug benefit/risk, and for monitoring parameters before the initiation of and during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Wahab
- Department of Pharmacy, Emory Healthcare, Emory Decatur Hospital, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA.
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18
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Strzelczyk A, Zuberi SM, Striano P, Rosenow F, Schubert-Bast S. The burden of illness in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: a systematic literature review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:42. [PMID: 36859290 PMCID: PMC9979426 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02626-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by drug-resistant epilepsy with multiple seizure types starting in childhood, a typical slow spike-wave pattern on electroencephalogram, and cognitive dysfunction. METHODS We performed a systematic literature review according to the PRISMA guidelines to identify, synthesize and appraise the burden of illness in LGS (including "probable" LGS). Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE, Embase and APA PsychInfo, Cochrane's database of systematic reviews, and Epistemonikos. The outcomes were epidemiology (incidence, prevalence or mortality), direct and indirect costs, healthcare resource utilization, and patient and caregiver health-related quality of life (HRQoL). RESULTS The search identified 22 publications evaluating the epidemiology (n = 10), direct costs and resource (n = 10) and/or HRQoL (n = 5). No studies reporting on indirect costs were identified. With no specific ICD code for LGS in many regions, several studies had to rely upon indirect methods to identify their patient populations (e.g., algorithms to search insurance claims databases to identify "probable" LGS). There was heterogeneity between studies in how LGS was defined, the size of the populations, ages of the patients and length of the follow-up period. The prevalence varied from 4.2 to 60.8 per 100,000 people across studies for probable LGS and 2.9-28 per 100,000 for a confirmed/narrow definition of LGS. LGS was associated with high mortality rates compared to the general population and epilepsy population. Healthcare resource utilization and direct costs were substantial across all studies. Mean annual direct costs per person varied from $24,048 to $80,545 across studies, and home-based care and inpatient care were significant cost drivers. Studies showed that the HRQoL of patients and caregivers was adversely affected, although only a few studies were identified. In addition, studies suggested that seizure events were associated with higher costs and worse HRQoL. The risk of bias was low or moderate in most studies. CONCLUSIONS LGS is associated with a significant burden of illness featuring resistant seizures associated with higher costs and worse HRQoL. More research is needed, especially in evaluating indirect costs and caregiver burden, where there is a notable lack of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Strzelczyk
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Hospital and Goethe-University Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- LOEWE Center for Personalized and Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Sameer M Zuberi
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Pasquale Striano
- IRCCS 'G. Gaslini' Institute, Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Felix Rosenow
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Hospital and Goethe-University Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized and Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susanne Schubert-Bast
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Hospital and Goethe-University Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized and Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital and Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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19
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Liu Q, Wu N, Liu C, Yu H, Sun Y, Wang Y, Yu G, Wang S, Ji T, Liu X, Jiang Y, Cai L. Pediatric epilepsy surgery in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome after viral encephalitis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1097535. [PMID: 36908602 PMCID: PMC9998939 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1097535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To analyse the surgical outcomes of pediatric patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) secondary to viral encephalitis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of four patients with LGS secondary to viral encephalitis who underwent surgery at the pediatric epilepsy center of Peking University First Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. Preoperative evaluations included a detailed history, long-term video electroencephalography (VEEG), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and a neuropsychological test. All patients were followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months and then yearly. The surgical outcome was evaluated according to the Engel classification. Results Among the four children, the surgeries were right temporo-parieto-occipital disconnection (case 1), corpus callosotomy (case 2), left temporo-parieto-occipital disconnection (case 3), and left temporal lobectomy (case 4). The pathology was gliosis secondary to viral encephalitis. The median follow-up time was 4 years (3-5 years). At the last follow-up, one case had Engel I, two cases had Engel III, and one case had Engel IV. Conclusions Preliminary observations shows that surgical treatment may be challenging for patients with LGS secondary to viral encephalitis. However, suitable surgical candidacy and approaches have a significant impact on the prognosis of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingzhu Liu
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guojing Yu
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Taoyun Ji
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuwu Jiang
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lixin Cai
- Pediatric Epilepsy Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
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20
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Falcicchio G, Lattanzi S, Negri F, de Tommaso M, La Neve A, Specchio N. Treatment with Cenobamate in Adult Patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome: A Case Series. J Clin Med 2022; 12:jcm12010129. [PMID: 36614931 PMCID: PMC9821211 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) in which drug resistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is common. Focal-onset seizures (FOS) are among the seizure types characterizing LGS. Cenobamate (CNB) is a new AED indicated for the treatment of FOS and it has shown promising results in terms of seizure frequency reduction in both clinical trials and real-world experience. To date, the use of CNB in patients with DEEs is limited to Dravet syndrome. Methods: This was a retrospective study aimed to determine the 12-month effectiveness and tolerability of CNB in patients with LGS following real-world practice. Results: Four patients with LGS receiving CNB treatment were identified. At 12 months from starting CNB, the reduction in baseline seizure frequency ranged from 25 to 74%, with two patients achieving ≥50% seizure reduction. CNB was generally well tolerated and adjustments in doses of concomitant AEDs were required. Conclusions: CNB may represent a promising therapeutic option in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy associated with LGS. Further research is needed to confirm this preliminary evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simona Lattanzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, 60020 Ancona, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesco Negri
- DiBraiN Department, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marina de Tommaso
- DiBraiN Department, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Angela La Neve
- DiBraiN Department, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Specchio
- Rare and Complex Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Full Member of European Reference Network EpiCARE, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
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21
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Strzelczyk A, Schubert-Bast S. Psychobehavioural and Cognitive Adverse Events of Anti-Seizure Medications for the Treatment of Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies. CNS Drugs 2022; 36:1079-1111. [PMID: 36194365 PMCID: PMC9531646 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-022-00955-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The developmental and epileptic encephalopathies encompass a group of rare syndromes characterised by severe drug-resistant epilepsy with onset in childhood and significant neurodevelopmental comorbidities. The latter include intellectual disability, developmental delay, behavioural problems including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, psychiatric problems including anxiety and depression, speech impairment and sleep problems. Classical examples of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies include Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. The mainstay of treatment is with multiple anti-seizure medications (ASMs); however, the ASMs themselves can be associated with psychobehavioural adverse events, and effects (negative or positive) on cognition and sleep. We have performed a targeted literature review of ASMs commonly used in the treatment of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies to discuss the latest evidence on their effects on behaviour, mood, cognition, sedation and sleep. The ASMs include valproate (VPA), clobazam, topiramate (TPM), cannabidiol (CBD), fenfluramine (FFA), levetiracetam (LEV), brivaracetam (BRV), zonisamide (ZNS), perampanel (PER), ethosuximide, stiripentol, lamotrigine (LTG), rufinamide, vigabatrin, lacosamide (LCM) and everolimus. Bromide, felbamate and other sodium channel ASMs are discussed briefly. Overall, the current evidence suggest that LEV, PER and to a lesser extent BRV are associated with psychobehavioural adverse events including aggressiveness and irritability; TPM and to a lesser extent ZNS are associated with language impairment and cognitive dulling/memory problems. Patients with a history of behavioural and psychiatric comorbidities may be more at risk of developing psychobehavioural adverse events. Topiramate and ZNS may be associated with negative effects in some aspects of cognition; CBD, FFA, LEV, BRV and LTG may have some positive effects, while the remaining ASMs do not appear to have a detrimental effect. All the ASMs are associated with sedation to a certain extent, which is pronounced during uptitration. Cannabidiol, PER and pregabalin may be associated with improvements in sleep, LTG is associated with insomnia, while VPA, TPM, LEV, ZNS and LCM do not appear to have detrimental effects. There was variability in the extent of evidence for each ASM: for many first-generation and some second-generation ASMs, there is scant documented evidence; however, their extensive use suggests favourable tolerability and safety (e.g. VPA); second-generation and some third-generation ASMs tend to have the most robust evidence documented over several years of use (TPM, LEV, PER, ZNS, BRV), while evidence is still being generated for newer ASMs such as CBD and FFA. Finally, we discuss how a variety of factors can affect mood, behaviour and cognition, and untangling the associations between the effects of the underlying syndrome and those of the ASMs can be challenging. In particular, there is enormous heterogeneity in cognitive, behavioural and developmental impairments that is complex and can change naturally over time; there is a lack of standardised instruments for evaluating these outcomes in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, with a reliance on subjective evaluations by proxy (caregivers); and treatment regimes are complex involving multiple ASMs as well as other drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Strzelczyk
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Goethe-University and University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,LOEWE Center for Personalized and Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Susanne Schubert-Bast
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Goethe-University and University Hospital Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Personalized and Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Neuropediatrics, Goethe-University and University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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22
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Hahn CD, Jiang Y, Villanueva V, Zolnowska M, Arkilo D, Hsiao S, Asgharnejad M, Dlugos D. A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of soticlestat as adjunctive therapy in pediatric patients with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (ELEKTRA). Epilepsia 2022; 63:2671-2683. [PMID: 35841234 PMCID: PMC9804149 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) are rare treatment-resistant childhood epilepsies classed as developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. ELEKTRA investigated the efficacy and safety of soticlestat (TAK-935) as adjunctive therapy in children with DS or LGS (NCT03650452). METHODS ELEKTRA was a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of soticlestat (≤300 mg twice daily, weight-adjusted) in children (aged 2-17 years) with DS, demonstrating three or more convulsive seizures/month, or with LGS, demonstrating four or more drop seizures/month at baseline. The 20-week treatment period comprised an 8-week dose-optimization period and a 12-week maintenance period. Efficacy endpoints included change from baseline in seizure frequency versus placebo. Safety assessments included incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). RESULTS ELEKTRA enrolled 141 participants; 126 (89%) completed the study. The modified intent-to-treat population included 139 participants who received one or more doses of study drug and had one or more efficacy assessments (DS, n = 51; LGS, n = 88). ELEKTRA achieved its primary endpoint: the combined soticlestat-treated population demonstrated a placebo-adjusted median reduction in seizure frequency of 30.21% during the maintenance period (p = .0008, n = 139). During this period, placebo-adjusted median reductions in convulsive and drop seizure frequencies of 50.00% (p = .0002; patients with DS) and 17.08% (p = .1160; patients with LGS), respectively, were observed. TEAE incidences were similar between the soticlestat (80.3%) and placebo (74.3%) groups and were mostly mild or moderate in severity. Serious TEAEs were reported by 15.5% and 18.6% of participants receiving soticlestat and placebo, respectively. TEAEs reported in soticlestat-treated patients with ≥5% difference from placebo were lethargy and constipation. No deaths were reported. SIGNIFICANCE Soticlestat treatment resulted in statistically significant, clinically meaningful reductions from baseline in median seizure frequency (combined patient population) and in convulsive seizure frequency (DS cohort). Drop seizure frequency showed a nonstatistically significant numerical reduction in children with LGS. Soticlestat had a safety profile consistent with previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecil D. Hahn
- Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children and Department of PaediatricsUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Yuwu Jiang
- Department of PediatricsPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Vicente Villanueva
- Refractory Epilepsy UnitLa Fe University and Polytechnic HospitalValenciaSpain
| | | | | | - Samuel Hsiao
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company LimitedCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Dennis Dlugos
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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23
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An Italian consensus on the management of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Seizure 2022; 101:134-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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24
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de Góes FV, de Andrade Ramos JTM, da Silva Fontana R, de Carvalho Serão CL, Kok F, Gandelman Horovitz DD. Cannabidiol Successful Therapy for Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy Related to CYFIP2. Open Neurol J 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/1874205x-v16-e2203290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
The knowledge about the molecular basis of epilepsies has increased enormously with the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, and CYFIP2 is one of the many genes recently recognized and associated with epilepsy. Pathogenic variants in CYFIP2 cause Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy 65 (DEE65), which is characterized by hypotonia, profound developmental delay, and epilepsy.
Case Presentation:
Herein, we report a 3-year-old male with an early onset epileptic encephalopathy (Ohtahara syndrome) evolving to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome refractory to several antiseizure medications. Whole exome sequencing (WES) disclosed a heterozygous pathogenic variant p.(Arg87Cys) in CYFIP2, which occurred as a de novo event. After the introduction of cannabidiol, the patient remained seizure-free for 16 months and had a marked electroencephalographic improvement.
Conclusion:
Cannabidiol might be a therapeutic option for CYFIP2-related epilepsy
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25
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Kolaski K. Are anti-seizure medications effective and safe treatments for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary. Dev Med Child Neurol 2022; 64:678-680. [PMID: 35322410 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kat Kolaski
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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26
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Cerne R, Lippa A, Poe MM, Smith JL, Jin X, Ping X, Golani LK, Cook JM, Witkin JM. GABAkines - Advances in the discovery, development, and commercialization of positive allosteric modulators of GABA A receptors. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 234:108035. [PMID: 34793859 PMCID: PMC9787737 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.108035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors or GABAkines have been widely used medicines for over 70 years for anxiety, epilepsy, sleep, and other disorders. Traditional GABAkines like diazepam have safety and tolerability concerns that include sedation, motor-impairment, respiratory depression, tolerance and dependence. Multiple GABAkines have entered clinical development but the issue of side-effects has not been fully solved. The compounds that are presently being developed and commercialized include several neuroactive steroids (an allopregnanolone formulation (brexanolone), an allopregnanolone prodrug (LYT-300), Sage-324, zuranolone, and ganaxolone), the α2/3-preferring GABAkine, KRM-II-81, and the α2/3/5-preferring GABAkine PF-06372865 (darigabat). The neuroactive steroids are in clinical development for post-partum depression, intractable epilepsy, tremor, status epilepticus, and genetic epilepsy disorders. Darigabat is in development for epilepsy and anxiety. The imidazodiazepine, KRM-II-81 is efficacious in animal models for the treatment of epilepsy and post-traumatic epilepsy, acute and chronic pain, as well as anxiety and depression. The efficacy of KRM-II-81 in models of pharmacoresistant epilepsy, preventing the development of seizure sensitization, and in brain tissue of intractable epileptic patients bodes well for improved therapeutics. Medicinal chemistry efforts are also ongoing to identify novel and improved GABAkines. The data document gaps in our understanding of the molecular pharmacology of GABAkines that drive differential pharmacological profiles, but emphasize advancements in the ability to successfully utilize GABAA receptor potentiation for therapeutic gain in neurology and psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rok Cerne
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN USA,Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University/Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Arnold Lippa
- RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA
| | | | - Jodi L. Smith
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Xiaoming Jin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University/Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xingjie Ping
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University/Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lalit K. Golani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - James M. Cook
- RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Witkin
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN USA,RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Glen Rock, NJ, USA,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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27
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Dini G, Tulli E, Dell’Isola GB, Mencaroni E, Di Cara G, Striano P, Verrotti A. Improving Therapy of Pharmacoresistant Epilepsies: The Role of Fenfluramine. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:832929. [PMID: 35668937 PMCID: PMC9164301 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.832929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is among the most common neurological chronic disorders, with a prevalence of 0.5-1%. Despite the introduction of new antiepileptic drugs during recent years, about one third of the epileptic population remain drug-resistant. Hence, especially in the pediatric population limited by different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and by ethical and regulatory issues it is needed to identify new therapeutic resources. New molecules initially used with other therapeutic indications, such as fenfluramine, are being considered for the treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsies, including Dravet Syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). Drug-refractory seizures are a hallmark of both these conditions and their treatment remains a major challenge. Fenfluramine is an amphetamine derivative that was previously approved as a weight loss drug and later withdrawn when major cardiac adverse events were reported. However, a new role of fenfluramine has emerged in recent years. Indeed, fenfluramine has proved to be a promising antiepileptic drug with a favorable risk-benefit profile for the treatment of DS, LGS and possibly other drug-resistant epileptic syndromes. The mechanism by which fenfluramine provide an antiepileptic action is not fully understood but it seems to go beyond its pro-serotoninergic activity. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the literature, including ongoing trials, regarding the efficacy and safety of fenfluramine as adjunctive treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Dini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Genoa, Italy,*Correspondence: Gianluca Dini,
| | - Eleonora Tulli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS “G. Gaslini” Institute, Genoa, Italy,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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28
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The imidazodiazepine, KRM-II-81: An example of a newly emerging generation of GABAkines for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 213:173321. [PMID: 35041859 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
GABAkines, or positive allosteric modulators of γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors, are used for the treatment of anxiety, epilepsy, sleep, and other disorders. The search for improved GABAkines, with reduced safety liabilities (e.g., dependence) or side-effect profiles (e.g., sedation) constituted multiple discovery and development campaigns that involved a multitude of strategies over the past century. Due to the general lack of success in the development of new GABAkines, there had been a decades-long draught in bringing new GABAkines to market. Recently, however, there has been a resurgence of efforts to bring GABAkines to patients, the FDA approval of the neuroactive steroid brexanolone for post-partum depression in 2019 being the first. Other neuroactive steroids are in various stages of clinical development (ganaxolone, zuranolone, LYT-300, Sage-324, PRAX 114, and ETX-155). These GABAkines and non-steroid compounds (GRX-917, a TSPO binding site ligand), darigabat (CVL-865), an α2/3/5-preferring GABAkine, SAN711, an α3-preferring GABAkine, and the α2/3-preferring GABAkine, KRM-II-81, bring new therapeutic promise to this highly utilized medicinal target in neurology and psychiatry. Herein, we also discuss possible conditions that have enabled the transition to a new age of GABAkines. We highlight the pharmacology of KRM-II-81 that has the most preclinical data reported. KRM-II-81 is the lead compound in a new series of orally bioavailable imidazodiazepines entering IND-enabling safety studies. KRM-II-81 has a preclinical profile predicting efficacy against pharmacoresistant epilepsies, traumatic brain injury, and neuropathic pain. KRM-II-81 also produces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in rodent models. Other key features of the pharmacology of this compound are its low sedation rate, lack of tolerance development, and the ability to prevent the development of seizure sensitization.
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29
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Schubert-Bast S, Strzelczyk A. Review of the treatment options for epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis complex: towards precision medicine. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2021; 14:17562864211031100. [PMID: 34349839 PMCID: PMC8290505 DOI: 10.1177/17562864211031100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, which encode proteins that antagonise the mammalian isoform of the target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) - a key mediator of cell growth and metabolism. TSC is characterised by the development of benign tumours in multiple organs, together with neurological manifestations including epilepsy and TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND). Epilepsy occurs frequently and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality; however, the management is challenging due to the intractable nature of the seizures. Preventative epilepsy treatment is a key aim, especially as patients with epilepsy may be at a higher risk of developing severe cognitive and behavioural impairment. Vigabatrin given preventatively reduces the risk and severity of epilepsy although the benefits for TAND are inconclusive. These promising results could pave the way for evaluating other treatments in a preventative capacity, especially those that may address the underlying pathophysiology of TSC, including everolimus, cannabidiol and the ketogenic diet (KD). Everolimus is an mTOR inhibitor approved for the adjunctive treatment of refractory TSC-associated seizures that has demonstrated significant reductions in seizure frequency compared with placebo, improvements that were sustained after 2 years of treatment. Highly purified cannabidiol, recently approved in the US as Epidiolex® for TSC-associated seizures in patients ⩾1 years of age, and the KD, may also participate in the regulation of the mTOR pathway. This review focusses on the pivotal clinical evidence surrounding these potential targeted therapies that may form the foundation of precision medicine for TSC-associated epilepsy, as well as other current treatments including anti-seizure drugs, vagus nerve stimulation and surgery. New future therapies are also discussed, together with the potential for preventative treatment with targeted therapies. Due to advances in understanding the molecular genetics and pathophysiology, TSC represents a prototypic clinical syndrome for studying epileptogenesis and the impact of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Schubert-Bast
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Adam Strzelczyk
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16, Frankfurt am Main, 60528, Germany
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30
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Sharawat IK, Panda PK, Panda P, Dawman L. Efficacy and safety of rufinamide as adjunctive therapy in patients with Lennox Gastaut syndrome: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Seizure 2021; 91:296-307. [PMID: 34273668 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rufinamide is an antiseizure medication that acts through sodium channels and is found to be efficacious in patients with Lennox Gastaut syndrome (LGS). However, no systematic review has been conducted in LGS patients to provide an estimate of the efficacy and safety of rufinamide. METHODS Different electronic databases were searched for articles describing the use of rufinamide in patients with LGS. For determining primary efficacy outcomes as compared to placebo, we included only studies comparing the efficacy of rufinamide with placebo in LGS patients. We performed an additional analysis to include other uncontrolled studies with a minimum sample size of 20 to provide a more comprehensive estimate of efficacy. RESULTS A total of ten studies included 557 patients. Out of them, five studies were placebo-controlled, enrolling a total of 265 patients in the rufinamide group and 203 patients in the placebo group. The average percentage reduction in total seizure frequency per 28 days during the double-blind phase was 29.3% in the rufinamide group compared with 8.3% in the placebo group (difference between the two groups was 20.9%, 95%CI-14.4%-27.3%, p <0.00001). Even for individual seizure types like tonic-clonic seizures, atypical absence seizures, atonic seizures, focal seizures, and myoclonic seizures, rufinamide was more efficacious than placebo(p<0.00001). The number of patients with at least one treatment-emergent adverse effects was significantly higher in rufinamide treated patients (60.2%vs50.7%, p=0.02, RR-1.24(1.03,1.51). CONCLUSION Rufinamide is efficacious as adjunctive therapy in patients with LGS in terms of reduction in total seizure frequency and has mild adverse reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indar Kumar Sharawat
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249203, India
| | - Prateek Kumar Panda
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249203, India.
| | - Pragnya Panda
- Department of Neurology, King George Medical University, Lucknow 226003, India
| | - Lesa Dawman
- Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
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31
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Strzelczyk A, Grau J, Bast T, Bertsche A, Bettendorf U, Hahn A, Hartmann H, Hertzberg C, Hornemann F, Immisch I, Jacobs J, Klotz KA, Kluger G, Knake S, Knuf M, Kurlemann G, Marquard K, Mayer T, Meyer S, Muhle H, Müller-Schlüter K, von Podewils F, Rosenow F, Ruf S, Sauter M, Schäfer H, Schlump JU, Schubert-Bast S, Syrbe S, Thiels C, Trollmann R, Wiemer-Kruel A, Wilken B, Zukunft B, Zöllner JP. Prescription patterns of antiseizure drugs in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated epilepsy: a multicenter cohort study from Germany and review of the literature. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2021; 14:749-760. [PMID: 33792454 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2021.1911643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Seizures are a primary and early disease manifestation of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). We aimed to describe the age-stratified patterns of antiseizure drug (ASD) treatments among children, adolescents, and adults with TSC in Germany. Additionally, we reviewed real-world and clinical study evidence regarding ASD utilization in patients with TSC. METHODS We evaluated the pattern of routine ASD use and everolimus prescriptions based on a 2019 multicenter survey of 268 individuals with TSC-associated epilepsy. We contextualized the results with a structured review of real-world and clinical study evidence. RESULTS TSC-associated epilepsy treatment comprises a wide variety of ASDs. In this German sample, the majority of patients were treated with polytherapy, and lamotrigine (34.7%), valproate (32.8%), oxcarbazepine (28.7%), vigabatrin (19.0%), and levetiracetam (17.9%) were identified as the most-commonly used ASDs. In addition, everolimus was used by 32.5% of patients. In adherence to current TSC guidelines, the disease-modifying ASD vigabatrin was widely used in children (58% below the age of 5 years), whereas treatment in adults did not necessarily reflect guideline preference for (partial) GABAergic ASDs. CONCLUSIONS The selection of ASDs for patients with TSC-associated epilepsy follows well-evaluated recommendations, including the guidelines regarding vigabatrin use in children. Several characteristics, such as the comparatively high frequency of valproate use and polytherapy, reflect the severity of TSC-associated epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Strzelczyk
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Janina Grau
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Bast
- Epilepsy Center Kork, Clinic for Children and Adolescents, Kehl-Kork, Germany
| | - Astrid Bertsche
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Hahn
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Hans Hartmann
- Clinic for Pediatric Kidney, Liver and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Frauke Hornemann
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Leipzig University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ilka Immisch
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia Jacobs
- Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders, Center for Pediatrics, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg i.Br., Germany.,Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kerstin A Klotz
- Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders, Center for Pediatrics, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg i.Br., Germany.,Berta-Ottenstein-Programme, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg i.Br., Germany
| | - Gerhard Kluger
- Clinic for Neuropediatrics and Neurorehabilitation, Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Schön Klinikum Vogtareuth, Germany.,Research Institute, Rehabilitation, Transition and Palliation, PMU Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Susanne Knake
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Markus Knuf
- Department of Pediatrics, Helios Dr. Horst Schmidt Kliniken Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden, Germany.,Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Marquard
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Psychosomatics and Pain Management, Klinikum of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thomas Mayer
- Epilepsy Center Kleinwachau, Dresden-Radeberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Meyer
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Children´s Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Hiltrud Muhle
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany
| | - Karen Müller-Schlüter
- Epilepsy Center for Children, University Hospital Neuruppin, Brandenburg Medical School, Neuruppin, Germany
| | - Felix von Podewils
- Departmental of Neurology, Epilepsy Center, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Felix Rosenow
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susanne Ruf
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Sauter
- Klinikum Kempten, Klinikverbund Allgäu, Kempten/Allgäu, Germany
| | - Hannah Schäfer
- Division of Nephrology, Medizinische Klinik Und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der LMU München - Innenstadt, München, Germany.,Department of Nephrology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan-Ulrich Schlump
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University of Witten/Herdecke, Herdecke, Germany
| | - Susanne Schubert-Bast
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Neuropediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Steffen Syrbe
- Division of Pediatric Epileptology, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Thiels
- Department of Neuropediatrics and Social Pediatrics, St. Josef-Hospital, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Regina Trollmann
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Bernd Wilken
- Department of Neuropediatrics, Klinikum Kassel, Kassel, Germany
| | - Bianca Zukunft
- Department of Nephrology and Internal Intensive Care, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johann Philipp Zöllner
- Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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32
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Reyhani A, Özkara Ç. The unchanging face of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in adulthood. Epilepsy Res 2021; 172:106575. [PMID: 33721709 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathy characterized by the presence of multiple types of intractable seizures, cognitive impairment, and specific electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. The aim of this study was to investigate the electroclinical features of patients with LGS during adulthood. METHODS We retrospectively identified the medical records of 20 patients aged over 18 years with a diagnosis of LGS from 3896 patients with epilepsy. RESULTS Thirteen (65 %) patients were male. The mean age of the patients was 23.4 ± 7.1 (min-max; 18-43) years, and the mean follow-up period was 5.6 ± 4.5 (min-max; 1-14) years. The etiology was identified in 11 (55 %) patients. None of the patients achieved seizure freedom. The most prevalent seizure types were atypical absences in 14 (70 %) patients, tonic seizures in 13 (65 %) patients, and atonic seizures in 11 (55 %) patients. One (5 %) patient was diagnosed as having psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. Mental retardation was reported in all patients and only half of them could walk independently. All patients had drug-resistant seizures and 16 (80 %) patients were on polytherapy. A vagus nerve stimulator was implanted into ten (50 %) patients and five reported 50-80 % seizure reduction. Ketogenic diet was administered to two (10 %) patients and epilepsy surgery was performed in two (10 %) patients with no significant benefit. CONCLUSIONS Paying attention to all factors of seizure outcomes, cognitive impairment, and ambulatory status, all patients were dependent on caregivers for daily living abilities. LGS has life-long persistence with poor outcomes, even during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aylin Reyhani
- Health Sciences University, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurology, 34752, E5 Karayolu uzeri, Atasehir, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Çiğdem Özkara
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey.
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