Effects of adjunctive zonisamide treatment on weight and body mass index in children with partial epilepsy. (6th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lagae, L.; Meshram, C.; Giorgi, L.; Patten, A.
• Is Part Of: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. Volume 131:Number 5(2015:May)
• Page Start: 341
• Page End: 346
• Publication Date: 2015-02-06
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ane.12373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6314

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ane12373-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ane12373-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Zonisamide has been associated with weight loss in children and adults.</p> </sec> <sec id="ane12373-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims of the study</title> <p>To assess the effects of adjunctive zonisamide on weight and body mass index (BMI) in children with partial epilepsy.</p> </sec> <sec id="ane12373-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A subanalysis was conducted of a Phase III trial and extension study, in which children with partial epilepsy received adjunctive zonisamide (target dose 8 mg/kg/day; maximum 500 mg/day). Changes in weight were correlated with skeletal development and sexual maturation.</p> </sec> <sec id="ane12373-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Overall, 179 children (93 male, 86 female; age 6–18 years) received zonisamide (mean duration 370.6 days). Weight loss ≥5% was reported for 64 of 179 (35.8%) zonisamide‐treated children. Of these, 46.9% were overweight/obese at study entry, compared with 23.4% at study end (<italic>P</italic> = 0.0007); 48.4% had normal weight at study entry, compared with 65.6% at study end (<italic>P</italic> = 0.03). Three patients were underweight at study entry, and four more became underweight by study end. No consistent correlations between weight loss and skeletal development or sexual maturation were observed.</p> </sec> <sec id="ane12373-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Approximately one‐third of children treated with zonisamide experienced ≥5% weight loss. Weight loss was most apparent in children with high baseline BMI values and did not appear to be associated with any consistent effects on growth and development.</p> </sec> </abstract>