Gabapentin as add-on therapy in children with refractory partial seizures: a 24-week, multicentre, open-label study.
The efficacy and safety of gabapentin as add-on therapy for refractory partial seizures in 237 children, aged 3 to 12 years were evaluated over a 6-month period. All children received gabapentin at 24 to 70 mg/kg/day. Efficacy variables included the percent change in seizure frequency and the responder rate (defined as those patients who showed >50% reduction in seizure frequency). For all partial seizures, the median percent change in seizure frequency was -34% and the overall responder rate was 34%. Simple partial seizures showed a median reduction of -53%; complex partial seizures, -38%; and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures, -35%. Thirteen patients (5%) withdrew during the 6-month period because of adverse events. Concurrent antiepileptic medication remained unchanged in 185 patients (78%), was decreased in 27 (11%), and increased in 25 (11%) patients. This 6-month follow-up study has demonstrated that gabapentin was well tolerated and appeared to show a sustained efficacy in a large population of children with refractory partial and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Appleton
R
R
The Road Dahl EEG Unit, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Fichtner
K
K
LaMoreaux
L
L
Alexander
J
J
Maton
S
S
Murray
G
G
Garofalo
E
E
D000085:Acetates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D017211:Treatment Failure; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin