[Lamotrigine therapy in children. Retrospective study of 32 children].
BACKGROUND
Lamotrigine is one of the new anti-epileptic drugs, which is a phenyltriazine derivative. It is considered to act via an inhibitory effect on voltage-sensitive sodium channels and to have no GABAergic action.


METHODS
We studied its efficiency in 32 children with refractory epilepsy after a treatment of at least one year with other anti-epileptic drugs. We then compared our results with other publications.


RESULTS
Good efficiency (at least 50% reduction of crises) has been demonstrated for lamotrigine in children with generalized epilepsy (62.5% good results), particularly with absence epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Results are encouraging for our few patients with epilepsy with continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep. On the other hand, more precise indications are needed in partial epilepsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Seizure control was generally maintained during one year of lamotrigine treatment. Association to sodium valproate is relevant for most of the authors. Adverse effects are uncommon, and we did not observe any skin rash. Lastly, improvement of behaviour and cognitive functions represents another important benefit of lamotrigine.
Léthel
V
V
Service de neuropédiatrie, Hôpital d'enfants de La Timone, Marseille, France.
Chabrol
B
B
Livet
M O
MO
Mancini
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine