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Wu C, Wu H, Zhou Y, Liu X, Huang S, Zhu S. Effectiveness analysis of three-drug combination therapies for refractory focal epilepsy. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00345. [PMID: 38490875 PMCID: PMC11070276 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00345] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Selecting appropriate antiseizure medications (ASMs) for combination therapy in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is a complex task that requires an empirical approach, especially in patients receiving polytherapy. We aimed to analyze the effectiveness of various three-drug combinations in a group of patients with DRE under real-world conditions. This single-center, longitudinal observational study investigated patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who received three-drug regimens in the outpatient clinic of Tongji Hospital from September 2019 to December 2022. The effectiveness of each triple regimen was evaluated by the seizure-free rate and within-patient ratio of the seizure frequency (a seizure frequency ratio [SFR]<1 indicated superior efficacy). The independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for effectiveness analysis, and P values were adjusted by the Benjamini-Hochberg method for multiple comparisons. A total of 511 triple trials comprising 76 different regimens were conducted among 323 enrolled patients. Among these triple regimens, lamotrigine (LTG)/valproic acid (VPA)/topiramate (TPM) was the most frequently prescribed (29.4%, n = 95). At the last clinical visit, 14.9% (n = 48) of patients achieved seizure freedom after receiving triple therapy. LTG/VPA/TPM and LTG/VPA/levetiracetam (LEV) exhibited the highest seizure-free rates at 17.9% and 12.8%, respectively. These two regimens also had significantly lower median SFRs of 0.48 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.17-0.85; adjusted P < 0.001) and 0.63 (IQR, 0.21-1.04; adjusted P < 0.01), respectively. LTG/VPA/perampanel (PER) was another promising regimen that showed marginal effectiveness (median SFR = 0.67; adjusted P = 0.053). LTG/VPA/phenobarbital had the highest incidence of regimen-specific side effects (40.0%, 4/10), while the incidence of side effects from LTG/VPA/LEV was minimal (5.1%, 2/39). In conclusion, LTG/VPA/TPM and LTG/VPA/LEV exhibited superior efficacy and good tolerability in treating patients with DRE. Our results provide preliminary insights into the selection of ASMs for three-drug combination therapies in this clinically challenging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Wu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Huiting Wu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Yingying Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Shanshan Huang
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China.
| | - Suiqiang Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China.
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Buainain RP, Oliveira CTP, Marson FAL, Ortega MM. Epidemiologic Profile of Patients With Epilepsy in a Region of Southeast Brazil: Data From a Referral Center. Front Neurol 2022; 13:822537. [PMID: 35620790 PMCID: PMC9128524 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.822537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Epilepsy affects about 50 million people worldwide, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. In Brazil, epidemiological studies are outdated and restricted to specific regions, mostly due to the continental size of country. Objective We aimed to present the first evidence-based study on the epidemiological aspects of individuals with epilepsy, mapping the characteristics of this disease in a referral center in a region of Southeast Brazil. Methods A retrospective study was carried out from January 2010 to March 2021. Patients were selected according to the International League Against Epilepsy Criteria. Results From a total of 618 selected patients, 317 (51.3%) were men and 301 (48.7%) were women with an average age of 34.03 ± 20.66 years. The average age at the first seizure was 15.16 ± 17.61 years. The prevalence ratio was 1.30 cases/1,000 habitants. Childhood febrile seizure was present in 44 patients (7.9%) and family history of epilepsy in 231 (37.4%) patients. The predominant type of seizure was focal in 401 (64.9%) patients. The most frequent etiologies were structural in 254 (41.1%) patients and unknown in 238 (38.5%) patients. Most of the patients' treatments were based on anti-seizure drugs in monotherapy [389 (62.9%)] with 398 (64.4%) drug-responsive patients. Conclusions Our epilepsy prevalence rate was lower than other studies in the Southeast Region of Brazil. In addition, the structural epilepsy type was predominant in our study compared with unknown causes, which is more frequent in other Brazilian regions and worldwide studies. The differences may be attributed to our region, which presents a high prevalence of neuroinfection, specially neurocysticercosis, and a referral center for traumatic brain injury. Moreover, the contrasting results reinforce the need for an adequate epidemiological assessment of epilepsy incidence in a region of Southeast Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Parissi Buainain
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Tumor Biology and Bioactive Compounds, São Francisco University, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, São Francisco University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando Augusto Lima Marson
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Tumor Biology and Bioactive Compounds, São Francisco University, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, São Francisco University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manoela Marques Ortega
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Tumor Biology and Bioactive Compounds, São Francisco University, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Human and Medical Genetics, São Francisco University, São Paulo, Brazil
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Asadi-Pooya AA, Farazdaghi M. Rational therapy with lamotrigine or levetiracetam: Which one to select? J Clin Neurosci 2022; 99:49-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Spotnitz M, Ostropolets A, Castano VG, Natarajan K, Waldman GJ, Argenziano M, Ottman R, Hripcsak G, Choi H, Youngerman BE. Patient characteristics and antiseizure medication pathways in newly diagnosed epilepsy: Feasibility and pilot results using the common data model in a single-center electronic medical record database. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 129:108630. [PMID: 35276502 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Efforts to characterize variability in epilepsy treatment pathways are limited by the large number of possible antiseizure medication (ASM) regimens and sequences, heterogeneity of patients, and challenges of measuring confounding variables and outcomes across institutions. The Observational Health Data Science and Informatics (OHDSI) collaborative is an international data network representing over 1 billion patient records using common data standards. However, few studies have applied OHDSI's Common Data Model (CDM) to the population with epilepsy and none have validated relevant concepts. The goals of this study were to demonstrate the feasibility of characterizing adult patients with epilepsy and ASM treatment pathways using the CDM in an electronic health record (EHR)-derived database. METHODS We validated a phenotype algorithm for epilepsy in adults using the CDM in an EHR-derived database (2001-2020) against source records and a prospectively maintained database of patients with confirmed epilepsy. We obtained the frequency of all antecedent conditions and procedures for patients meeting the epilepsy phenotype criteria and characterized ASM exposure sequences over time and by age and sex. RESULTS The phenotype algorithm identified epilepsy with 73.0-85.0% positive predictive value and 86.3% sensitivity. Many patients had neurologic conditions and diagnoses antecedent to meeting epilepsy criteria. Levetiracetam incrementally replaced phenytoin as the most common first-line agent, but significant heterogeneity remained, particularly in second-line and subsequent agents. Drug sequences included up to 8 unique ingredients and a total of 1,235 unique pathways were observed. CONCLUSIONS Despite the availability of additional ASMs in the last 2 decades and accumulated guidelines and evidence, ASM use varies significantly in practice, particularly for second-line and subsequent agents. Multi-center OHDSI studies have the potential to better characterize the full extent of variability and support observational comparative effectiveness research, but additional work is needed to validate covariates and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Spotnitz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Anna Ostropolets
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Victor G Castano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Karthik Natarajan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Genna J Waldman
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Michael Argenziano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Ruth Ottman
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States; The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States; Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, United States
| | - George Hripcsak
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Hyunmi Choi
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States
| | - Brett E Youngerman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States.
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Verrotti A, Lattanzi S, Brigo F, Zaccara G. Pharmacodynamic interactions of antiepileptic drugs: From bench to clinical practice. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 104:106939. [PMID: 32058303 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 50% of patients do not achieve seizure control with antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapy, and polytherapy, with more than one AED, is often required. To date, no evidence-based criteria on how to combine AEDs exist. OBJECTIVE This narrative review aimed to provide critical findings of the available literature about the role of pharmacodynamic AEDs' interactions in patients whose epilepsies were treated with polytherapy. METHODS Electronic databases, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), were systematically searched to identify relevant studies on pharmacodynamic AEDs' interactions in patients with epilepsy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Most data on AED combinations are coming from animal models and preclinical studies. Combining AEDs with different mechanisms of actions seems to have greater effectiveness and lower risk of adverse event development. Conversely, the combination of AEDs may cause pharmacodynamic synergistic effects that may result in not only increased efficacy but also more adverse effects. Despite some AED associations that have been proven to be effective in specific epilepsy/seizure type (e.g., phenobarbital+/phenytoin for tonic seizures and ethosiximide + valproate for absences; lamotrigine + valproate for various epilepsy/seizure types), no clear and definitive evidence exists about AED combinations in humans. Examples of pharmacodynamic interactions that possibly explain the synergistic effects on efficacy or adverse effects include the combination between vigabatrin or pregabalin and sodium channel blockers (supra-additive antiseizure effect) and lacosamide combined with other sodium channel blockers (infra-additive antiseizure effect and neurotoxicity synergistic). The pharmacodynamic lamotrigine-valproate interaction is also supported by synergistic adverse events. Therefore, well-designed double-blind prospective studies recruiting a sufficient number of patients possibly with a crossover design and carefully ascertain the role of pharmacokinetic interactions and variations of AEDs' levels in the blood are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Verrotti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Simona Lattanzi
- Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Hospital Franz Tappeiner, Department of Neurology, Merano, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Verrotti A, Tambucci R, Di Francesco L, Pavone P, Iapadre G, Altobelli E, Matricardi S, Farello G, Belcastro V. The role of polytherapy in the management of epilepsy: suggestions for rational antiepileptic drug selection. Expert Rev Neurother 2019; 20:167-173. [PMID: 31855066 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2020.1707668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Antiepileptic polytherapy may be indicated in patients experiencing drug-resistant epilepsy. To date, there are no evidence-based criteria on how to combine different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) together, in order to obtain the best therapeutic response.Areas covered: This paper reviews the available data about the various associations of AEDs in patients undergoing polytherapy, focusing on the most effective and well-tolerated polytherapies. Moreover, some controversial aspects of this topic are addressed.Expert opinion: Nowadays, there are no guidelines on polytherapy in patients with epilepsy; thus, the management of pharmacoresistant epilepsy is still uncertain, except for valproate/lamotrigine combination, which seems to be the only one recommended. Data regarding mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and, more importantly, the analysis of the valuable clinical studies of drug combinations can help physicians to choose the best and most effective AED association for each patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Verrotti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Renato Tambucci
- Pediatric Unit, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.,Digestive Endoscopy and Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Piero Pavone
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giulia Iapadre
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Emma Altobelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Sara Matricardi
- Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Salesi Hospital Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Farello
- Department of Pediatrics, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Belcastro
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Mental Health, ASST-LARIANA, COMO
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Lee BI, Park KM, Kim SE, Heo K. Clinical opinion: Earlier employment of polytherapy in sequential pharmacotherapy of epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 2019; 156:106165. [PMID: 31351239 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.106165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Modern pharmacotherapy for epilepsy consists of orderly, sequential drug trials, in which antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are chosen under the concept of individual patient-oriented (or - tailored) pharmacotherapy. Although monotherapy has been established as the preferred mode of AEDs therapy in both newly diagnosed and drug resistant epilepsies, there are still lack of evidence to favor either monotherapy or polytherapy in epilepsy, which has generated continuing controversies on the preferred mode of pharmacotherapy. However, each mode of pharmacotherapy may have both advantages and disadvantages, which are different and variable related to individual case scenario. We conducted a brief comparative overview between monotherapy and polytherapy to provide clues for earlier employment of polytherapy in each steps of sequential drug trials. Previous claims about the advantages of monotherapy over polytherapy are not supported but gradually losing its ground by the introduction of a large number of drugs carrying pharmacological advantages for combination therapy. Current evidence stresses the importance of combining drugs having synergistic interactions for better outcome of polytherapy, which has not been considered in previous clinical investigations comparing monotherapy and polytherapy. It is likely that a significant improvement in the outcome of current AEDs therapy is feasible by earlier employment of polytherapy as well as identification of combination drug regimens carrying synergistic interactions. At present, lamotrigine(LTG) and valproate(VPA) combination regimen is the only well documented synergistic regimen, but there are a long-list of candidate regimens requiring future trials in appropriate designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung In Lee
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kang Min Park
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Eun Kim
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Heo
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Epilepsy Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Park KM, Kim SE, Lee BI. Antiepileptic Drug Therapy in Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. J Epilepsy Res 2019; 9:14-26. [PMID: 31482053 PMCID: PMC6706642 DOI: 10.14581/jer.19002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy starts with an accurate diagnosis of epilepsy and is followed by sequential drug trials. Seizure freedom is largely achieved by the first two drug trials; thus, epilepsy that cannot be controlled after appropriately conducted trials of the first two drugs is defined as drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). It is still unclear which mode of pharmacotherapy, among monotherapy and polytherapy, shows better outcomes in cases of DRE. However, in a recent large hospital cohort study over past two decades, combination therapy was associated with a progressive increase in seizure-free rate than monotherapy in DRE. The benefits of polytherapy in the management of DRE might be related to the recent introduction of many new AEDs with different and novel mechanisms of action and better pharmacokinetic and tolerability profiles. These new AEDs were introduced to the market after they have proven their superiority over placebos in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on add-on therapy in patients with DRE. Therefore, polytherapy including these new AEDs in the regimen is the approved mode of treatment for cases of DRE; this has prompted physicians to try various combinations of polytherapy to optimize the clinical outcomes. In addition, the significant discrepancies in AED responder rates between RCTs and real-world practice may support the importance of judicious use of new drugs in polytherapy by experienced epileptologists. Most experts now agree to the concept of “rational polytherapy” consisting of mechanistic combinations of AEDs exerting synergistic interactions and to the importance of continuing trials of different rational polytherapy regimens to improve the outcome of the core population of epilepsy patients in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Min Park
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Sung Eun Kim
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Byung In Lee
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy Center, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
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