Yu-Tse Liu1, Guo-Tai Chen2, Yin-Cheng Huang1, Jih-Tsun Ho3, Cheng-Chi Lee1, Cheng-Chia Tsai2, Chen-Nen Chang2. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch and school of medicine. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi Branch and school of medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Branch and school of medicine.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lesional and symptomatic causes of epilepsy are the most common neurological disorders of the brain. Topiramate effectively controls newly diagnosed epilepsy and refractory focal seizures, but high-dose topiramate does not improve seizure control. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of dose-escalated topiramate as first-line monotherapy and add-on therapy in patients with neurosurgery-related epilepsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 55 neurosurgical patients with epilepsy were divided into monotherapy and add-on therapy groups and both groups received topiramate via the dose-escalation method. The primary efficacy outcomes were seizure-free rate and seizure response rate. Adverse events and seizure frequency were recorded. RESULTS: The seizure response rate in the first month of monotherapy was significantly better than that of add-on therapy (89% vs 65%, P < .05), but no significant differences were found in seizure response rates between the 2 groups after 2 months of treatment. Both monotherapy and add-on therapy were effective in controlling seizures, with mean seizure frequency of 0.725 vs 0.536 and seizure-free rate of 88% vs 78.6%. Both treatments showed good improvement of seizure frequency in patients without tumor. The efficacy of monotherapy was better than that of add-on therapy (80% vs 29.2%) in patients with body mass index (BMI) ≤24. However, add-on therapy was better than monotherapy (76.7% vs 21.4%) in patients with BMI > 24. Dizziness (25.5%) and headache (16.4%) were the most common adverse events. No severe adverse event such as cognitive impairment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-escalated topiramate monotherapy and add-on therapy demonstrate good efficacy and safety, with fewer adverse events in seizure control in neurosurgical patients.
BACKGROUND: Lesional and symptomatic causes of epilepsy are the most common neurological disorders of the brain. Topiramate effectively controls newly diagnosed epilepsy and refractory focal seizures, but high-dose topiramate does not improve seizure control. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of dose-escalated topiramate as first-line monotherapy and add-on therapy in patients with neurosurgery-related epilepsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 55 neurosurgical patients with epilepsy were divided into monotherapy and add-on therapy groups and both groups received topiramate via the dose-escalation method. The primary efficacy outcomes were seizure-free rate and seizure response rate. Adverse events and seizure frequency were recorded. RESULTS: The seizure response rate in the first month of monotherapy was significantly better than that of add-on therapy (89% vs 65%, P < .05), but no significant differences were found in seizure response rates between the 2 groups after 2 months of treatment. Both monotherapy and add-on therapy were effective in controlling seizures, with mean seizure frequency of 0.725 vs 0.536 and seizure-free rate of 88% vs 78.6%. Both treatments showed good improvement of seizure frequency in patients without tumor. The efficacy of monotherapy was better than that of add-on therapy (80% vs 29.2%) in patients with body mass index (BMI) ≤24. However, add-on therapy was better than monotherapy (76.7% vs 21.4%) in patients with BMI > 24. Dizziness (25.5%) and headache (16.4%) were the most common adverse events. No severe adverse event such as cognitive impairment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-escalated topiramate monotherapy and add-on therapy demonstrate good efficacy and safety, with fewer adverse events in seizure control in neurosurgical patients.
Authors: Sang Kun Lee; Sang Ahm Lee; Dong Wook Kim; Christian Loesch; Barbara Pelgrims; Toru Osakabe; Byungin Lee Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2019-06-10 Impact factor: 2.937
Authors: H P R Bootsma; F Coolen; A P Aldenkamp; J Arends; L Diepman; J Hulsman; D Lambrechts; L Leenen; M Majoie; A Schellekens; M de Krom Journal: Epilepsy Behav Date: 2004-06 Impact factor: 2.937