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Asadi-Pooya AA. Drug resistance in epilepsy: A reappraisal of the definition is needed. Epilepsia 2024; 65:238-239. [PMID: 37966426 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali A Asadi-Pooya
- Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Neurology, Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Mesraoua B, Brigo F, Lattanzi S, Abou-Khalil B, Al Hail H, Asadi-Pooya AA. Drug-resistant epilepsy: Definition, pathophysiology, and management. J Neurol Sci 2023; 452:120766. [PMID: 37597343 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
There are currently >51 million people with epilepsy (PWE) in the world and every year >4.9 million people develop new-onset epilepsy. The cornerstone of treatment in PWE is drug therapy with antiseizure medications (ASMs). However, about one-third of PWE do not achieve seizure control and do not respond well to drug therapy despite the use of appropriate ASMs [drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE)]. The aims of the current narrative review are to discuss the definition of DRE, explain the biological underpinnings and clinical biomarkers of this condition, and finally to suggest practical management strategies to tackle this issue appropriately, in a concise manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boulenouar Mesraoua
- Neurosciences Department, Hamad Medical Corporation and Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy
| | - Simona Lattanzi
- Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Hassan Al Hail
- Neurosciences Department, Hamad Medical Corporation and Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Ali A Asadi-Pooya
- Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Asadi‐Pooya AA, Farazdaghi M. Definition of drug-resistant epilepsy: A reappraisal based on epilepsy types. Acta Neurol Scand 2022; 145:627-632. [PMID: 35130355 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To re-assess the definition of drug-resistant epilepsy based on the evidence from a large-scale, long-term study including both adults and children. We categorized the patients as idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs), focal epilepsies, or structural-metabolic-genetic generalized epilepsies [symptomatic generalized epilepsies (SGEs)] and provided the definition of drug-resistance based on the epilepsy types of the patients. METHODS This was a longitudinal study of a prospectively developed and maintained database. All patients with an electro-clinical diagnosis of IGE, focal epilepsy, or SGE, who received treatment from 2008 to 2021, were recruited at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. All patients had to be followed at our center for at least 24 months. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS The included patients were as follows: 523 with focal epilepsy, 218 with IGE, and 211 with SGE. For all epilepsy types, the ROC curves of the number of appropriately prescribed antiseizure medications (ASMs) were acceptable indicators to anticipate drug-resistance. The best cutoff point for focal epilepsies was at 4 ASMs (sensitivity: 0.56, specificity: 0.81); for IGE, at 3 ASMs (sensitivity: 0.51, specificity: 0.80); and for SGEs, at 4 ASMs (sensitivity: 0.78, specificity: 0.58). CONCLUSION The definition of drug-resistant epilepsy should be different in various epilepsy types. It is the time for the scientific community to reappraise the definition of drug-resistant epilepsy in the light of the new evidence that has become available in the past 11 years since the previously published definition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali A. Asadi‐Pooya
- Epilepsy Research Center Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz Iran
- Department of Neurology Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Mohsen Farazdaghi
- Epilepsy Research Center Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz Iran
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Makridis KL, Prager C, Tietze A, Atalay DA, Triller S, Elger CE, Thomale UW, Kaindl AM. Case Report: Hemispherotomy in the First Days of Life to Treat Drug-Resistant Lesional Epilepsy. Front Neurol 2022; 12:818972. [PMID: 35002946 PMCID: PMC8740526 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.818972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neonatal drug-resistant epilepsy is often caused by perinatal epileptogenic insults such as stroke, ischemia, hemorrhage, and/or genetic defects. Rapid seizure control is particularly important for cognitive development. Since early surgical intervention and thus a short duration of epilepsy should lead to an optimal developmental outcome, we present our experience with hemispherotomy in an infant at the corrected age of 1 week. Methods: We report successful hemispherotomy for drug-resistant epilepsy in an infant with hemimegalencephaly at a corrected age of 1 week. Results: The infant was diagnosed with drug-resistant lesional epilepsy due to hemimegalencephaly affecting the left hemisphere. Given congruent electroclinical findings, we performed a left vertical parasagittal transventricular hemispherotomy after critical interdisciplinary discussion. No complications occurred during the surgery. Intraoperatively; 118 ml of red blood cells (30 ml/kg) and 80 ml of plasma were transfused. The patient has been seizure-free since discharge without further neurological deficits. Conclusion: We demonstrate that early epilepsy surgery is a safe procedure in very young infants if performed in a specialized center experienced with age-specific surgical conditions and perioperative management. The specific surgical difficulties should be weighed against the risk of life-long developmental drawbacks of ongoing detrimental epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin L Makridis
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Cell- and Neurobiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Prager
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Tietze
- Neuroradiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Deniz A Atalay
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Triller
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian E Elger
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Beta Neurologie - Kompetenzzentrum für Epilepsie, Beta Klinik GmbH, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Angela M Kaindl
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Cell- and Neurobiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Denton A, Thorpe L, Carter A, Angarita-Fonseca A, Waterhouse K, Hernandez Ronquillo L. Definitions and Risk Factors for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in an Adult Cohort. Front Neurol 2021; 12:777888. [PMID: 34966348 PMCID: PMC8710721 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.777888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Less than one-third of people with epilepsy will develop drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Establishing the prognosis of each unique epilepsy case is an important part of evaluation and treatment.Most studies on DRE prognosis have been based on a pooled, heterogeneous group, including children, adults, and older adults, in the absence of clear recognition and control of important confounders, such as age group. Furthermore, previous studies were done before the 2010 definition of DRE by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), so data based on the current definitions have not been entirely elucidated. This study aimed to explore the difference between 3 definitions of DRE and clinical predictors of DRE in adults and older adults. Methods: Patients with a new diagnosis of epilepsy ascertained at a Single Seizure Clinic (SSC) in Saskatchewan, Canada were included if they had at least 1 year of follow-up. The first study outcome was the diagnosis of DRE epilepsy at follow-up using the 2010 ILAE definition. This was compared with 2 alternative definitions of DRE by Kwan and Brodie and Camfield and Camfield. Finally, risk factors were analyzed using the ILAE definition. Results: In total, 95 patients with a new diagnosis of epilepsy and a median follow-up of 24 months were included. The median age of patients at the diagnosis of epilepsy was 33 years, and 51% were men. In the cohort, 32% of patients were diagnosed with DRE by the Kwan and Brodie definition, 10% by Camfield and Camfield definition, and 15% by the ILAE definition by the end of follow-up. The only statistically significant risk factor for DRE development was the failure to respond to the first anti-seizure medication (ASM). Conclusion: There were important differences in the percentage of patients diagnosed with DRE when using 3 concurrent definitions. However, the use of the ILAE definition appeared to be the most consistent through an extended follow-up. Finally, failure to respond to the first ASM was the sole significant risk factor for DRE in the cohort after considering the age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Denton
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lilian Thorpe
- Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Alexandra Carter
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Saskatchewan Epilepsy Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Adriana Angarita-Fonseca
- Universite du Quebec en Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Rouyn Noranda, QC, Canada.,Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier del l'Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Karen Waterhouse
- Saskatchewan Epilepsy Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lizbeth Hernandez Ronquillo
- Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.,Saskatchewan Epilepsy Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Deodhar M, Matthews SA, Thomas B, Adamian L, Mattes S, Wells T, Zieba B, Simeone KA, Simeone TA. Pharmacoresponsiveness of spontaneous recurrent seizures and the comorbid sleep disorder of epileptic Kcna1-null mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 913:174656. [PMID: 34838797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174656] [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: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistant epilepsy affects ∼30% of people with epilepsy and is associated with epilepsy syndromes with frequent and multiple types of seizures, lesions or cytoarchitectural abnormalities, increased risk of mortality and comorbidities such as cognitive impairment and sleep disorders. A limitation of current preclinical models is that spontaneous seizures with comorbidities take time to induce and test, thus making them low-throughput. Kcna1-null mice exhibit all the characteristics of drug resistant epilepsy with spontaneous seizures and comorbidities occurring naturally; thus, we aimed to determine whether they also demonstrate pharmacoresistanct seizures and the impact of medications on their sleep disorder comorbidity. In this exploratory study, Kcna1-null mice were treated with one of four conventional antiseizure medications, carbamazepine, levetiracetam, phenytoin, and phenobarbital using a moderate throughput protocol (vehicle for 2 days followed by 2 days of treatment with high therapeutic doses selected based on published data in the 6 Hz model of pharmacoresistant seizures). Spontaneous recurrent seizures and vigilance states were recorded with video-EEG/EMG. Carbamazepine, levetiracetam and phenytoin had partial efficacy (67%, 75% and 33% were seizure free, respectively), whereas phenobarbital was fully efficacious and conferred seizure freedom to all mice. Thus, seizures of Kcna1-null mice appear to be resistant to three of the drugs tested. Levetiracetam failed to affect sleep architecture, carbamazepine and phenytoin had moderate effects, and phenobarbital, as predicted, restored sleep architecture. Data suggest Kcna1-null mice may be a moderate throughput model of drug resistant epilepsy useful in determining mechanisms of pharmacoresistance and testing novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malavika Deodhar
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Stephanie A Matthews
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Brittany Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Leena Adamian
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sarah Mattes
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tabitha Wells
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Brianna Zieba
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kristina A Simeone
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Timothy A Simeone
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Serafini R. How much can medical management alone improve the outcome of adult drug-resistant epilepsy? An exploratory study on possibilities and limitations of combining multiple therapeutic actions. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 122:108065. [PMID: 34243142 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Failure to control epileptic seizures with two medications, adequately chosen and dosed, indicates drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). The chance of pharmacologically controlling seizures is low for patients with DRE and uncontrolled seizures who are not candidates for surgery, who have already undergone surgery, or who already had a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) placed. Patients experiencing these conditions must instead rely on medical management of their seizures, and there is no breakthrough solution on the horizon. Medical care of DRE might be optimized by systematically considering factors that promote and inhibit breakthrough seizures. For example, seizure control could be enhanced through measures such as increasing the frequency of follow-up visits, tracking treatment plan compliance, treating sleep disorders, rational polypharmacy, adjusting drug administration to achieve higher levels when seizures are more likely and educating patients on seizure triggers. A systematic and simultaneous implementation of all of these measures is likely to yield a sizable, clinically relevant, improvement. This paper presents an exploratory study on the effects of implementing such an approach, specifically evaluating this method's impact on seizure frequency. METHODS I performed a retrospective chart review of 659 consecutive adult patients with epilepsy followed up at the University of Utah and at the Salt Lake City VA Medical center using the multimodal approach described above. I identified 27 patients who had DRE and uncontrolled seizures and in whom a medical management optimization protocol was implemented. I measured these patients' seizure frequency at the beginning and the end of the study period and compared the results with those of a matching control group of 48 patients. RESULTS The optimization protocol did not increase the number of seizure-free patients with DRE; however, it was effective in minimizing seizure frequency in patients whose seizures remained uncontrolled. Among these patients, the median seizure frequency dropped by 64% in the optimization group but did not change in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Despite the high occurrence of DRE, there is no accepted protocol for the related medical management. This paper describes an effective approach that can be implemented in a clinically relevant and readily achievable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruggero Serafini
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah Clinical Neuroscience Center, George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, 175 North Medical Drive East, 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
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Faught E. Reoperations for Epilepsy: How Many Times Should We Bat? Epilepsy Curr 2021; 20:367-368. [PMID: 34025257 PMCID: PMC7818212 DOI: 10.1177/1535759720961059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-Term Outcomes of Reoperations in Epilepsy Surgery Yardi R, Morita-Sherman ME, Fitzgerald Z, et al. Epilepsia.
2020;61(3):465-470. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32108946/ Objective: To analyze longitudinal seizure outcomes following epilepsy surgery, including
reoperations, in patients with intractable focal epilepsy. Methods: Clinicoradiological characteristics of patients who underwent epilepsy surgery from
1995 to 2016 with follow-up of ≥1 year were reviewed. In patients undergoing
reoperations, the latest resection was considered the index surgery. The primary
outcome was complete seizure freedom (Engel I) at last follow-up. Potentially
significant outcome variables were first identified using univariate analyses and
then fit in multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Of 898 patients fulfilling study criteria, 110 had reoperations: 92 had one
resection prior to the index surgery and 18 patients had 2 or more prior resective
surgeries. Two years after the index surgery, 69% of patients with no prior
surgeries had an Engel score of I, as opposed to only 42% of those with one prior
surgery, and 33% of those with 2 or more prior resections (P <
.001). Among surgical outcome predictors, the number of prior epilepsy surgeries,
female sex, lesional initial magnetic resonance imaging, no prior history of
generalization, and pathology correlated with better seizure outcomes on univariate
analysis. However, only sex (P = .011), history of generalization
(P = .016), and number of prior surgeries (P =
.002) remained statistically significant in the multivariate model. Significance: Although long-term seizure control is possible in patients with failed prior
epilepsy surgery, the chances of success diminish with every subsequent resection.
Outcome is additionally determined by inherent biological markers (sex and secondary
generalization tendency), rather than traditional outcome predictors, supporting a
hypothesis of “surgical refractoriness.”
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Landazuri PX, Ulloa CM. The challenges of continued antiseizure medicine trials. Epilepsia 2020; 61:2613-2614. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.16711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol M. Ulloa
- Department of Neurology University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City KS USA
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