Rufinamide in children and adults in routine clinical practice. (29th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaraba, S.; Santamarina, E.; Miró, J.; Toledo, M.; Molins, A.; Burcet, J.; Becerra, J. L.; Raspall, M.; Pico, G.; Miravet, E.; Cano, A.; Fossas, P.; Fernández, S.; Falip, M.
• Is Part Of: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. Volume 135:Number 1(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 122
• Page End: 128
• Publication Date: 2016-02-29
• Subjects: Resistant epilepsy -- focal epilepsy -- generalized epilepsy -- rufinamide -- childhood -- adulthood; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ane.12572
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6314

Abstract

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.