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Siddiqui F, Soomro BA, Rehman EU, Numan A, Bano S, Salam JU, Brohi H, Zaheer M, Memon FH, Qureshi MW, Sheikh JA, Sunejo AL, Iqbal A, Abbass S, Zaidi S, Nawaz S, Fatima K, Altaf S, Maheshwary N, Khan MA, Ahmed A, Asif MI. A prospective, observational, multicentre study to evaluate the efficacy of brivaracetam as adjuvant therapy for epilepsy: The Bravo study. Drugs Context 2024; 13:2024-3-2. [PMID: 38989131 PMCID: PMC11235182 DOI: 10.7573/dic.2024-3-2] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Epilepsy is a persistent tendency to experience epileptic seizures and can lead to various neurobiological disorders, with an elevated risk of premature mortality. This study evaluates the efficacy of brivaracetam adjuvant therapy in patients with epilepsy. Methods A prospective observational multicentre study that was conducted in Pakistan from March to September 2022, by using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. The population consisted of 543 individuals with a diagnosis of epilepsy for whom adjunctive brivaracetam (Brivera; manufactured by Helix Pharma Pvt Ltd., Sindh, Pakistan) was recommended by the treating physician. The research sample was drawn from various private neurology clinics of Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar. Data originating from routine patient visits, and assessments at three study time points, were recorded in the study case report form. Results Across 18 clinical sites, 543 individuals participated, with a mean age of 32.9 years. The most prescribed dosages were 50 mg BD, followed by 100 mg BD. Notably, brivaracetam combined with divalproex sodium was the most prevalent treatment, followed by brivaracetam with levetiracetam. At both the 14th and 90th day assessments, a significant reduction in seizure frequency was observed, with 63.1% of individuals showing a favourable response by day 90. Treatment-naive individuals exhibited higher rates of seizure freedom and response compared with treatment-resistant individuals. Conclusions The study demonstrates the effectiveness of brivaracetam combination therapy in epilepsy management, with notable reductions in seizure frequency and favourable clinical responses observed, particularly in treatment-naive individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bashir A Soomro
- Department of Neurology, Zia Uddin Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Ehsan U Rehman
- Department of Neurology, Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Ahsan Numan
- Department of Neurology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Safia Bano
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Jawwad Us Salam
- Department of Neurology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hazim Brohi
- Department of Neurology, LNH, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zaheer
- Department of Neurology, Khattak Medical Center, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Faizan Hyder Memon
- Department of Neurology, United Medical & Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Abdul Latif Sunejo
- Department of Neurology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Amjad Iqbal
- Department of Neurology, Klmc, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Saira Abbass
- Department of Neurology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Saba Zaidi
- Department of Neurology, LNH, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sidrah Nawaz
- Department of Neurology, Wah International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Kaukab Fatima
- Department of Neurology, Bashir Hospital, Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Samar Altaf
- Department of Neurology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Athar Khan
- Department of Community Medicine, Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan
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Halliday AJ, Vogrin S, Ignatiadis S, Gillinder L, Jones D, Kiley M, Kwan P, Seneviratne U, Somerville E, Whitham E. The efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive brivaracetam for the treatment of adult epilepsy: An Australian multi-center retrospective real-world observational cohort study. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 145:109287. [PMID: 37336131 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Assess the efficacy and tolerability of add-on therapy brivaracetam (BRV) in adult patients with epilepsy in a real-world setting. METHODS This multi-center retrospective observational cohort study examined all adult patients who commenced on BRV at 11 Australian epilepsy centers between 2017 and 2020. Primary outcomes were seizure response (≥50% reduction in frequency) and seizure freedom 12 months post BRV commencement, and tolerability. We report three approaches to missing data (complete case analysis, CCA; last observation carried forward, LOCF; and intention to treat, ITT). Secondary outcomes included the durability of early BRV response and continuous seizure freedom from BRV initiation. Subgroup analysis examined patients with focal and generalized epilepsy and patients with refractory (≥4 prior ASMs) and highly refractory (≥7 prior ASMs) epilepsy. Outcomes were also assessed at 'personalized' seizure outcome time points based on baseline seizure frequency. RESULTS Baseline and follow-up data were available for 228 patients. The mean age was 41.5 years (IQR 30, 50). Most had focal epilepsy (188/228, 82.5%). Median number of previous ASMs was 4 (2, 7), and concomitant ASMs 2 (2, 3). Twelve-month responder rate was: 46.3% using CCA (95% CI 34.0, 58.9); 39.5% using LOCF (33.1, 46.1); and 15.4% using ITT (10.9, 20.7). Twelve-month seizure freedom was: 23.9% using CCA (14.3, 35.9); 24.6% using LOCF (19.1, 30.7); and 7.9% using ITT (4.7, 12.1). The most frequent adverse effects were sedation or cognitive slowing (33/228, 14.5%), irritability or aggression (16/228, 7.0%), and low mood (14/228, 6.1%). Outcomes were similar using continuous outcome definitions and 'personalized' outcome assessment time points. Early responses were highly durable, with 3-month response maintained at all subsequent time points at 83%, and seizure freedom maintained at 85%. Outcomes were similar in focal (n = 187) and generalizsed (n = 25) subgroups. Outcomes were similar in refractory patients (n = 129), but lower in the highly refractory group (n = 62), however improvement with BRV was still observed with 12-month seizure freedom of 8.3% using CCA (1.0, 27), 6.5% using LOCF (1.8, 15.7); and 3.2% using ITT (0.4, 11.2). CONCLUSIONS Meaningful real-world responder and seizure freedom rates can be still observed in a refractory epilepsy population. Brivaracetam response can occur early and appears to be maintained with minimal later relapse. The results should be interpreted with caution given the retrospective nature of the study and the quantities of missing data at later time points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Halliday
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, St. Vincents Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Sara Vogrin
- Department of Medicine, St. Vincents Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Sophia Ignatiadis
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, St. Vincents Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Lisa Gillinder
- Mater Centre for Neurosciences, Mater Hospital Brisbane, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Neurology Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Dean Jones
- Department of Neurology, Royal Hobart Hospital, 48 Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Churchill Ave, Hobart Tasmania 7005, Australia.
| | - Michelle Kiley
- Department of Neurology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.
| | - Patrick Kwan
- Neurology Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Neurosciences, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne 3004, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
| | - Udaya Seneviratne
- Department of Neurology, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Ernest Somerville
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Comprehensive Epilepsy Service, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Emma Whitham
- Department of Neurology, Flinders Medical Centre, Australia.
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