Seizure-free outcome in randomized add-on trials of the new antiepileptic drugs.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study is to (1) provide clinically useful, previously unpublished comparative analyses of seizure-freedom rates for newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and (2) recommend a standard for data presentation and analysis.


METHODS
Data were reviewed from placebo-controlled adjunctive trials in refractory patients of gabapentin (GPN), lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TOP), tiagabine (TGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV), zonisamide (ZNS), and pregabalin (PGB). Seizure-freedom analyses in these publications, if included at all, consistently included both patients who completed the trial, and those who dropped out prior to completion (last observation carried forward, LOCF). This has the potential to increase reported seizure-free outcomes. Pharmaceutical companies were contacted for the provision of unpublished seizure-free data in the patients who completed the entire study.


RESULTS
In most cases, LOCF analysis produced a higher rate of seizure freedom compared to complete analysis. A total of 0%-1.1% of the LOCF population was seizure-free in the GPN trials (complete data not available). For the remaining AEDs, seizure-freedom results in the LOCF versus complete populations were: 0.7% versus 0.8% (LTG trial); 12% versus 2.6% (OXC trial); 3.6%-6.4% versus 3.9%-7.1% (LEV trial); 3.7%-7.9% versus 1.3%-1.4% (PGB trial); and 6.0% versus 3.0% (ZNS trial, minus titration period).


CONCLUSIONS
By employing LOCF, a clinically unrealistic picture of seizure-free rates may be reported. Access to complete data is informative, as it includes only those patients who were able to tolerate the drug at doses that produced seizure freedom. Ideally, data from both ITT and complete analyses should be made available.
Gazzola
Deana M
DM
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Balcer
Laura J
LJ
French
Jacqueline A
JA
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants