Efficacy of Deflazacort with Add-on Therapy in Childhood Intractable Atonic Seizure

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This is a clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of deflazacort as adjunctive therapy in childhood intractable atonic seizure including Lennox- Gastaut syndrome. METHODS: This is a clinical prospective, add-on, and open-label study performed for 6 months from Jun. 2000 to Dec. 2000 at the pediatric neurology clinic of Severance Hospital. Subjects were selected according to the following criteria, 1) Patients were diagosed as refractory atonic seizure disorder including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome during more than 6 months, 2) Patients had been on maximal doses of at least 2 anticonvulants including sodium valproate and clonazepam or clobazam. We observed seizure frequency of 4 weeks and 24 week medication period as well as adverse reactions every 4 weeks. Those data were analysed primarily for median seizure frequency reduction rate and other efficacy variables such as responder rate with frequency reduction more than 50% and seizure free rate. We also compared the clinical aspects between responder and non responder group. RESULTS: 48 patients were evaluated for efficacy and adverse reactions. Median seizure frequency reduction rate was 42.7%, responders were 22 patients(45.8%) and seizure free patients were 4(8.3%). In Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, median seizure frequency reduction rate was 48.9% and in atonic seizure only 39.3%. However, there were no statistically significant differences in efficacy. We compared clinical aspects between respoder and non responder groups, but couldn't find any difference. The number of patients manifesting adverse reactions was 20(41.6%) in an descending order of frequency, weight gain in 16 patients(33.3%), and irritability in 4 patients(8.3%). CONCLUSION: Deflazacort is believed to be an effective and safe anticonvulsant when used as adjunctive therapy for atonic seizure including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. However, long term follow up is required to evaluate relapse rate and its adverse reactions.