OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of 2 novel antiepileptic drugs, topiramate and levetiracetam, as a second line treatment for infantile spasm when oral steroids fail. METHODS:Forty infants under 2 years with clinically- and EEG-proven infantile spasms that did not respond to prednisone (2mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses) were recruited and randomized into 2 groups. They were randomly assigned to either topiramate (group 1; 1mg/kg/day for 3 days then increased by 1mg/kg/day every third day up to 6mg/kg/day) or levetiracetam (group 2; 10mg/kg/day for 5 days and then increased by 10mg/kg/day every 5 days up to 60mg/kg/day). The study was conducted in the Pediatric Neurology Department at the National Neuroscience Institute of King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2008 and December 2010. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients included in the final data analysis, 11 (55%) were administeredtopiramate and 9 (45%) levetiracetam. Eighteen patients did not respond to the first drug, and subsequently to the other drug when crossed-over. Two patients with infantile spasm responded to either one drug without crossover. Their EEGs improved with time. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated the ineffectiveness of topiramate and levetiracetam suggesting current treatment modalities are grossly inadequate underscoring the urgent need for more research efforts to overcome current deficiencies. Two patients with cryptogenic infantile spasm responded to treatment suggesting the potential for treatment of such patients with these 2 drugs, and merits further multicenter investigation.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of 2 novel antiepileptic drugs, topiramate and levetiracetam, as a second line treatment for infantile spasm when oral steroids fail. METHODS: Forty infants under 2 years with clinically- and EEG-proven infantile spasms that did not respond to prednisone (2mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses) were recruited and randomized into 2 groups. They were randomly assigned to either topiramate (group 1; 1mg/kg/day for 3 days then increased by 1mg/kg/day every third day up to 6mg/kg/day) or levetiracetam (group 2; 10mg/kg/day for 5 days and then increased by 10mg/kg/day every 5 days up to 60mg/kg/day). The study was conducted in the Pediatric Neurology Department at the National Neuroscience Institute of King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2008 and December 2010. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients included in the final data analysis, 11 (55%) were administered topiramate and 9 (45%) levetiracetam. Eighteen patients did not respond to the first drug, and subsequently to the other drug when crossed-over. Two patients with infantile spasm responded to either one drug without crossover. Their EEGs improved with time. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated the ineffectiveness of topiramate and levetiracetam suggesting current treatment modalities are grossly inadequate underscoring the urgent need for more research efforts to overcome current deficiencies. Two patients with cryptogenic infantile spasm responded to treatment suggesting the potential for treatment of such patients with these 2 drugs, and merits further multicenter investigation.
Authors: Kelly G Knupp; Erin Leister; Jason Coryell; Katherine C Nickels; Nicole Ryan; Elizabeth Juarez-Colunga; William D Gaillard; John R Mytinger; Anne T Berg; John Millichap; Douglas R Nordli; Sucheta Joshi; Renée A Shellhaas; Tobias Loddenkemper; Dennis Dlugos; Elaine Wirrell; Joseph Sullivan; Adam L Hartman; Eric H Kossoff; Zachary M Grinspan; Lorie Hamikawa Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2016-09-12 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Zachary M Grinspan; John R Mytinger; Fiona M Baumer; Michael A Ciliberto; Bruce H Cohen; Dennis J Dlugos; Chellamani Harini; Shaun A Hussain; Sucheta M Joshi; Cynthia G Keator; Kelly G Knupp; Patricia E McGoldrick; Katherine C Nickels; Jun T Park; Archana Pasupuleti; Anup D Patel; Asim M Shahid; Renee A Shellhaas; Daniel W Shrey; Rani K Singh; Steven M Wolf; Elissa G Yozawitz; Christopher J Yuskaitis; Jeff L Waugh; Phillip L Pearl Journal: J Child Neurol Date: 2020-06-23 Impact factor: 1.987
Authors: Zachary M Grinspan; Kelly G Knupp; Anup D Patel; Elissa G Yozawitz; Courtney J Wusthoff; Elaine Wirrell; Ignacio Valencia; Nilika S Singhal; Douglas R Nordli; John R Mytinger; Wendy Mitchell; Cynthia G Keator; Tobias Loddenkemper; Shaun A Hussain; Chellamani Harini; William D Gaillard; Ivan S Fernandez; Jason Coryell; Catherine J Chu; Anne T Berg; Renee A Shellhaas Journal: Neurology Date: 2021-07-15 Impact factor: 11.800