Lacosamide on background eeg activity in brain tumor‐related epilepsy patients: A case series study. Issue 11 (17th October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maschio, Marta; Zarabla, Alessia; Maialetti, Andrea; Sperati, Francesca; Dinapoli, Loredana; Dispenza, Sabrina; Petreri, Gianluca; Cantelmi, Tonino
• Is Part Of: Brain and behavior. Volume 8:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-10-17
• Subjects: antiepileptic drugs -- brain tumor‐related epilepsy -- EEG background activity -- efficacy -- lacosamide -- quantitative EEG; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-3279

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Therapeutic doses of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may alter EEG background activity, which is considered an index of the functional state of the brain. Quantitative analysis (qEEG) of EEG background activity is a valid instrument to assess the effects of many centrally active drugs on the central nervous system, including AEDs. Lacosamide (LCM) is a new AED that could be a valid therapeutic choice in patients with brain tumor‐related epilepsy (BTRE). Methods: We used qEEG to analyze the possible effect of LCM as an add‐on, on background EEG activity after 4 months in patients with BTRE. Results: We consecutively recruited sixteen patients with BTRE: Five dropped out for disease progression, five for scarce compliance, and six completed the study. For these reasons qEEG was performed at first visit and after 4 months only in six patients. For all frequency bands, LCM revealed no changes of mean relative power during rest with eyes closed, hyperpnoea (HP), and mental arithmetic task (MA); significant increment was found only in the theta mean relative power during opening and closing eyes (BR). After four months of therapy with LCM, one patient was seizure free, four had a seizure reduction ≥50%, and one showed a worsening in seizure frequency <50%. Conclusion: Despite the limitation of a small series, these findings suggest that LCM seems to have only a mild interference on EEG background activity and confirm that LCM has a good efficacy on seizure control in patients with BTRE. This is the first study that evaluates the effect of LCM on background EEG activity, using qEEG in BTRE patients. Future research in this area could include prospective studies with qEEG for a longer follow‐up period to assess the impact of AEDs on brain functions in this particular fragile patient population. Abstract : This is the first study that evaluates in BTRE patients the effect of LCM on EEG background activity, considered an index of the functional state of the brain. Using qEEG, in our study LCM did not induce significant changes on EEG background activity for any of the frequency bands, with the exception of the theta band activity only during BR. This preliminary study could be the starting point for future researches in this area using qEEG, eventually with neuropsychological test, to assess the impact of AEDs on brain functions in this particular fragile patient population.