Topiramate in the treatment of myoclonic-astatic epilepsy in children: a retrospective hospital audit.
J Postgrad Med
;
2003 Jul-Sep; 49(3): 202-5; discussion 205-6
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-115984
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Myoclonic-Astatic Epilepsy (MAE) usually starts before five years of age and is associated with very frequent seizures and is highly resistant to treatment.AIM:
To investigate the outcome of adjunctive topiramate (TPM) therapy in children with a diagnosis of MAE syndrome. SUBJECTS ANDMETHODS:
In an outpatient setting, case notes of 27 children who received TPM were retrieved and analysed.RESULTS:
Records of 6 children with MAE, who were experiencing 2-8 atonic seizures daily before starting TPM were studied. Improvement was noted after addition of TPM (mean dose at steady-state 7.4+/-2.5mg/kg/day) to the regimen of 1-3 anti-epileptic drugs they were receiving concurrently. All but one child improved following the titration period one had 50-80% improvement in the frequency of atonic seizures and three had over 80% improvement. However, one child who showed over 80% improvement and was free of atonic seizures, later developed increased frequency of other seizure types. In one child there was no significant improvement. Improvement has been sustained for over 6 months in three patients and over 4 months in one; three have continued TPM. TPM was stopped in three patients (reduction in seizure control/no improvement).CONCLUSIONS:
This study supports the efficacy of TPM in controlling atonic seizures in MAE and indicates that it should be considered as an add-on drug in the management of this 'difficult-to-treat' epileptic syndrome.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Child
/
Child, Preschool
/
Retrospective Studies
/
Adolescent
/
Treatment Outcome
/
Epilepsy, Absence
/
Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile
Type of study:
Observational study
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
J Postgrad Med
Year:
2003
Type:
Article
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