title: Adjuvant vigabatrin in refractory epilepsy: a ceiling to effective dosage in individual patients?
abstract: A double-blind, randomized, cross-over study of additional vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl-GABA, VGB, 1.0 g twice daily for 6 weeks, followed by 1.5 g twice daily for 6 weeks) and matched placebo was undertaken in 24 patients with refractory epilepsy. Nineteen completed the trial satisfactorily. Fewer seizure days were reported during VGB treatment [placebo 41, VGB 23, p < 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.5 to -14]. An overall reduction in median seizure numbers failed to reach statistical significance (n = 19; placebo 52, VGB 32, NS, 95% CI -18 to +24). Subgroup analysis, however, showed a significant reduction in partial seizures (n = 17) with 2 g VGB daily (placebo 22, VGB 13, p < 0.05, 95% CI -0.5 to -16.5), but not with higher dosage (placebo 28, VGB 22, NS, 95% CI -18 to +11). A deterioration in control of partial seizures as compared with the equivalent placebo phase was observed when patients were changed from 2 to 3 g/day VGB (2 g VGB 13, 3 g VGB 22, p = 0.05, 95% CI 0 to +20). Loss of efficacy was noted in 3 patients, and seizure control worsened slightly in 5 others. One previously resistant patient developed a therapeutic response, and 2 other patients reported an additional useful reduction in seizures. In the remaining 8 patients, seizure frequency did not change. VGB did not appear to benefit tonic-clonic seizures. Serum VGB concentrations were higher during treatment with 3 g (15.5 +/- 8.9 mg/L) daily than with 2 g (13.5 +/- 11.2 mg/L). No important alterations were noted in the concentrations of concomitantly administered antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) throughout the trial. VGB is useful adjuvant therapy for treatment of partial seizures. There may be a ceiling to effective dosage. This demands individual dose titration for each patient.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blacklaw
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friel
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gillham
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brodie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000614:Aminocaproates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020888:Vigabatrin
chemical_list: D000614:Aminocaproates; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010919:Placebos; D020888:Vigabatrin