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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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Lai MC, Wu SN, Huang CW. Rufinamide, a Triazole-Derived Antiepileptic Drug, Stimulates Ca 2+-Activated K + Currents While Inhibiting Voltage-Gated Na + Currents. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213677. [PMID: 36430153 PMCID: PMC9697614 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Rufinamide (RFM) is a clinically utilized antiepileptic drug that, as a triazole derivative, has a unique structure. The extent to which this drug affects membrane ionic currents remains incompletely understood. With the aid of patch clamp technology, we investigated the effects of RFM on the amplitude, gating, and hysteresis of ionic currents from pituitary GH3 lactotrophs. RFM increased the amplitude of Ca2+-activated K+ currents (IK(Ca)) in pituitary GH3 lactotrophs, and the increase was attenuated by the further addition of iberiotoxin or paxilline. The addition of RFM to the cytosolic surface of the detached patch of membrane resulted in the enhanced activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa channels), and paxilline reversed this activity. RFM increased the strength of the hysteresis exhibited by the BKCa channels and induced by an inverted isosceles-triangular ramp pulse. The peak and late voltage-gated Na+ current (INa) evoked by rapid step depolarizations were differentially suppressed by RFM. The molecular docking approach suggested that RFM bound to the intracellular domain of KCa1.1 channels with amino acid residues, thereby functionally affecting BKCa channels' activity. This study is the first to present evidence that, in addition to inhibiting the INa, RFM effectively modifies the IK(Ca), which suggests that it has an impact on neuronal function and excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Chi Lai
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Nan Wu
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (S.-N.W.); (C.-W.H.)
| | - Chin-Wei Huang
- Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (S.-N.W.); (C.-W.H.)
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Saydam M, Timur SS, Vural İ, Takka S. Cell culture and pharmacokinetic evaluation of a solid dosage formulation containing a water-insoluble orphan drug manufactured by FDM-3DP technology. Int J Pharm 2022; 628:122307. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Arzimanoglou A, Pringsheim M, Kluger GJ, Genton P, Perdomo C, Malhotra M. Safety and efficacy of rufinamide in children and adults with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: A post hoc analysis from Study 022. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 124:108275. [PMID: 34509883 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with the first symptoms usually appearing during early childhood. Due to the highly variable underlying etiologies, LGS cannot be considered as one disease but as an electro-clinical entity, often challenging to diagnose early and treat accordingly. The anti-seizure medication, rufinamide, is indicated for the adjunctive treatment of patients with LGS aged ≥1 year. This post hoc analysis assessed the safety and efficacy of adjunctive rufinamide for total and tonic-atonic seizures during Study 022 in children (aged <16 years) and adults (aged ≥16 years). METHODS Randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III Study 022 included patients with a diagnosis of LGS and a history of multiple seizure types (including tonic-atonic or astatic seizures and atypical absence seizures; ≥90 seizures in the month prior to baseline). Assessments included monitoring of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), percent change in tonic-atonic seizure frequency/28 days during the double-blind phase relative to study baseline (a primary endpoint), and percentage of patients with ≥25%, ≥50%, or ≥75% reduction in seizure frequency relative to baseline. RESULTS Of 138 enrolled patients, 74 received rufinamide (<16 years, n = 49 [66%]) and 64 received placebo (<16 years, n = 43 [67%]). Incidence of TEAEs was generally similar between age groups. The frequency (per 28 days) of tonic-atonic seizures was reduced with rufinamide (vs. placebo) in both younger and older patients: age <16 years (-41% vs. -6%), age ≥16 years (-55% vs. +16%) (p < 0.025; both age groups). In patients aged <16 years receiving rufinamide, 38% and 17% achieved ≥50% and ≥75% reductions in tonic-atonic seizure frequency vs. 18% and 3% with placebo, respectively. Corresponding responder rates for patients aged ≥16 years were 52% and 32% (rufinamide) vs. 15% and 5% (placebo), respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this post hoc analysis, adjunctive rufinamide was well tolerated and improved seizure control in patients with LGS, irrespective of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Arzimanoglou
- Department of Paediatric Clinical Epileptology, Sleep Disorders and Functional Neurology, Member of the ERN EpiCARE, University Hospitals of Lyon (HCL), Lyon 60700, France; Epilepsy Research Coordinator, Children's Hospital San Juan de Dios, Member of the ERN EpiCARE, Barcelona 08950, Spain.
| | - Milka Pringsheim
- Clinic for Neuropediatrics and Neurological Rehabilitation, Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Krankenhausstr, Vogtareuth 20 83569, Germany; Research Institute for Rehabilitation, Transition and Palliation, PMU Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gerhard Josef Kluger
- Clinic for Neuropediatrics and Neurological Rehabilitation, Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Krankenhausstr, Vogtareuth 20 83569, Germany; Research Institute for Rehabilitation, Transition and Palliation, PMU Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Pierre Genton
- Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier, Avenue des Tamaris, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Carlos Perdomo
- Eisai Inc., 100 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677, United States
| | - Manoj Malhotra
- Eisai Inc., 100 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677, United States
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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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Tanritanir A, Wang X, Loddenkemper T. Efficacy and Tolerability of Rufinamide in Epileptic Children Younger Than 4 Years. J Child Neurol 2021; 36:281-287. [PMID: 33231110 DOI: 10.1177/0883073820967159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rufinamide, a triazole derivative, is a new-generation antiseizure medication with a novel mechanism of action. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of rufinamide treatment in children with epilepsy younger than 4 years at our center. METHODS In this retrospective study, we included children younger than 4 years who had pharmacologically resistant epilepsy and were treated with rufinamide at Boston Children's Hospital between June 2010 and June 2018. Safety and efficacy of rufinamide treatment were assessed immediately prior to initiation of rufinamide and at the last follow-up visit. Responders were defined as patients who had greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency on follow-up as compared to baseline. RESULTS We reviewed records of 128 children and included 103 with complete information. Patients consisted of 60 boys (58%), with a median age of 20 months (interquartile range 13-28, range 2-36). Median treatment duration was 15 months, and median rufinamide dosage at the last follow-up was 42 mg/kg/d (interquartile range 34-56). At the last follow-up, seizure frequency decreased (450 vs 90, P<.001) and overall seizure reduction was 54%. Fifty-one patients (49.5%) were responders with 94% seizure reduction, including 20 (19.4%) who achieved seizure freedom. Treatment retention rate at 12 months was 63%. Thirty patients (29%) developed adverse events and 41 patients (39.8%) discontinued rufinamide because of adverse events (15; 14.5%) and lack of efficacy (26; 25%). CONCLUSION Rufinamide is effective in reducing seizure frequency in pediatric epilepsy patients younger than 4 years, and overall well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Tanritanir
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, 1862Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Xiaofan Wang
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, 1862Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tobias Loddenkemper
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, 1862Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Abstract
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a childhood-onset severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), is an entity that encompasses a heterogenous group of aetiologies, with no single genetic cause. It is characterised by multiple seizure types, an abnormal EEG with generalised slow spike and wave discharges and cognitive impairment, associated with high morbidity and profound effects on the quality of life of patients and their families. Drug-refractory seizures are a hallmark and treatment is further complicated by its multiple morbidities, which evolve over the patient's lifetime. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current and future options for the treatment of seizures associated with LGS. Six treatments are specifically indicated as adjunct therapies for the treatment of seizures associated with LGS in the US: lamotrigine, clobazam, rufinamide, topiramate, felbamate and most recently cannabidiol. These therapies have demonstrated reductions in drop seizures in 15%-68% of patients across trials, with responder rates (≥ 50% reduction in drop seizures) of 37%-78%. Valproate is still the preferred first-line treatment, generally in combination with lamotrigine or clobazam. Other treatments frequently used off-label include the broad spectrum anti-epileptic drugs (AED) levetiracetam, zonisamide and perampanel, while recent evidence from observational studies has indicated that a newer AED, the levetiracetam analogue brivaracetam, may be effective and well tolerated in LGS patients. Other treatments in clinical development include fenfluramine in late phase III, perampanel, soticlestat-OV953/TAK-953, carisbamate and ganaxolone. Non-pharmacologic interventions include the ketogenic diet, vagus nerve stimulation and surgical interventions; these are also expanding, with the potential for less invasive techniques for corpus callosotomy that have promise for reducing complications. However, despite these advancements, patients continue to experience a significant burden. Because LGS is not a single entity, tailoring of treatment is needed as opposed to a 'one size fits all' approach. Further research is needed into the underlying aetiologies and pathophysiology of LGS, together with advancements in treatments that encompass the spectrum of seizures associated with this complex syndrome.
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SAYDAM M, TAKKA S. Improving the dissolution of a water-insoluble orphan drug through a fused deposition modelling 3-Dimensional printing technology approach. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 152:105426. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Balagura G, Riva A, Marchese F, Verrotti A, Striano P. Adjunctive Rufinamide in Children with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome: A Literature Review. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2020; 16:369-379. [PMID: 32103957 PMCID: PMC7008198 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s185774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe, childhood-onset, developmental epileptic encephalopathy, with different etiologies and co-morbidities. Seizure treatment in LGS represents a major challenge; new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are developed to especially address seizures resulting in high morbidity and mortality, such as drop seizures. Rufinamide (RFN) is one of the latest AEDs licensed for patients with LGS. Its mechanism of action involves sodium channels in a way that is unrelated to other AEDs. Here we discuss the use of adjunctive RFN in children and adolescents with LGS and its efficacy and safety profile, based on a systematic literature review. RFN shows a very favorable profile in terms of adverse events and drug-interactions in children. It is particularly effective on tonic-atonic seizures and spasms, impacting on the quality of life of the patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the interaction profile with the newest AEDs for LGS and to assess correlations between the etiology of LGS and drug response to individualize treatment and maximize efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganna Balagura
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS 'G. Gaslini' Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonella Riva
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS 'G. Gaslini' Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Marchese
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS 'G. Gaslini' Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberto Verrotti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS 'G. Gaslini' Institute, Genoa, Italy
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