S Jaraba1,2, E Santamarina3, J Miró1, M Toledo3, A Molins4, J Burcet5, J L Becerra6, M Raspall7, G Pico8, E Miravet8, A Cano9, P Fossas9, S Fernández1,10, M Falip1. 1. Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 2. Neurology Department, Hospital de Viladecans, Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain. 3. Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 4. Neurology Department, Hospital Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain. 5. Neurology Department, Hospital del Vendrell, Tarragona, Spain. 6. Epilepsy Unit, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. 7. Epilepsy Unit, Paediatric Neurology Deparment, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 8. Paediatric Neurology Department, Hospital Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 9. Neurology Department, Hospital de Mataró, Barcelona, Spain. 10. Neurology Department, Hospital Plató, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the long-term effectiveness of rufinamide in managing Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), other epileptic encephalopathies, and intractable focal epilepsies in adults and children in routine clinical practice. METHODS: A multicentre, retrospective chart review of patients prescribed adjunctive rufinamide at seven Spanish epilepsy centres, with assessments at six and 12 months. RESULTS: We evaluated data from 58 patients (40 male, age range 7-57 years), 25 of whom were diagnosed with LGS, 12 with other epileptic encephalopathies and 21 of whom were diagnosed with focal epilepsies, mainly frontal lobe. The mean daily rufinamide dose was 32.0 mg/kg (range 12.5-66.7 mg/kg) in children and 24.7 mg/kg (range 5.0-47.0 mg/kg) in adults, and the most commonly used concomitant antiepileptic drugs were levetiracetam and valproate. Rufinamide was discontinued in 25 patients (43.1%) during the 1-year follow-up, and the most common reason was lack of effectiveness (n = 12, 20.7% of total). The frequency of generalized tonic-clonic seizures was significantly reduced from baseline at 6 and 12 months (P = 0.001), both in patients with generalized epilepsies and in patients with focal epilepsies. Significant seizure frequency reduction from baseline was observed at 12 months (P = 0.01) for tonic/atonic seizures and at 6 months (P = 0.001) for focal seizures. Side effects were reported in 21 patients (36.2%): nausea, vomiting and weight loss were most frequent. CONCLUSIONS: Rufinamide was well tolerated and was effective in reducing frequency of generalized tonic-clonic, tonic/atonic and focal seizures in both children and adults with severe refractory epilepsies, primarily LGS.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the long-term effectiveness of rufinamide in managing Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), other epilepticencephalopathies, and intractable focal epilepsies in adults and children in routine clinical practice. METHODS: A multicentre, retrospective chart review of patients prescribed adjunctive rufinamide at seven Spanish epilepsy centres, with assessments at six and 12 months. RESULTS: We evaluated data from 58 patients (40 male, age range 7-57 years), 25 of whom were diagnosed with LGS, 12 with other epilepticencephalopathies and 21 of whom were diagnosed with focal epilepsies, mainly frontal lobe. The mean daily rufinamide dose was 32.0 mg/kg (range 12.5-66.7 mg/kg) in children and 24.7 mg/kg (range 5.0-47.0 mg/kg) in adults, and the most commonly used concomitant antiepileptic drugs were levetiracetam and valproate. Rufinamide was discontinued in 25 patients (43.1%) during the 1-year follow-up, and the most common reason was lack of effectiveness (n = 12, 20.7% of total). The frequency of generalized tonic-clonic seizures was significantly reduced from baseline at 6 and 12 months (P = 0.001), both in patients with generalized epilepsies and in patients with focal epilepsies. Significant seizure frequency reduction from baseline was observed at 12 months (P = 0.01) for tonic/atonic seizures and at 6 months (P = 0.001) for focal seizures. Side effects were reported in 21 patients (36.2%): nausea, vomiting and weight loss were most frequent. CONCLUSIONS:Rufinamide was well tolerated and was effective in reducing frequency of generalized tonic-clonic, tonic/atonic and focal seizures in both children and adults with severe refractory epilepsies, primarily LGS.
Authors: Francesca Gorini; Michele Santoro; Anna Pierini; Lorena Mezzasalma; Silvia Baldacci; Elena Bargagli; Alessandra Boncristiano; Maurizia Rossana Brunetto; Paolo Cameli; Francesco Cappelli; Giancarlo Castaman; Barbara Coco; Maria Alice Donati; Renzo Guerrini; Silvia Linari; Vittoria Murro; Iacopo Olivotto; Paola Parronchi; Francesca Pochiero; Oliviero Rossi; Barbara Scappini; Andrea Sodi; Alessandro Maria Vannucchi; Alessio Coi Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2022-05-16 Impact factor: 5.988