Efficacy and prognosis of a short course of prednisolone therapy for pediatric epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive prednisolone therapy in children with cryptogenic epileptic encephalopathy, other than infantile spasms, and to determine its prognosis.


METHODS
Prednisolone, 2mg/kg per day for 6 weeks, tapered for a further 2 weeks, was given in combination with previously prescribed antiepileptic drugs. A retrospective assessment of 41 children thus treated included measurements of seizure frequency, electroencephalographic findings, global assessments of cognitive function, and adverse drug events. Long-term patient prognoses over a mean follow-up period of 3 years and 5 months (range, 14-90 months) were also examined.


RESULTS
Of 41 patients, 32 had Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, 4 had Doose syndrome, 1 had Otahara syndrome, 2 had Landau-Kleffner syndrome, and 2 had other unspecified generalized epilepsies. After prednisolone therapy, 73% (30/41) of patients showed a reduction in seizure frequency of >50%, and 59% (24/41) became seizure free. However, only seven patients (four with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, two with Doose syndrome, and one with unspecified generalized epilepsy) who became seizure free remained free of seizures at the time of the final follow-up. Electroencephalographic findings and global assessments of cognitive function correlated well with seizure outcomes. No significant demographic factors influenced the efficacy of prednisolone or patient prognoses after prednisolone tapering. Most adverse events were transient, or were tolerated well with conservative management, with maintenance of the medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Prednisolone therapy may be a safe and effective adjunct in patients with cryptogenic epileptic encephalopathies, but the high relapse rate is of concern.
You
S J
SJ
Department of Pediatrics, Epilepsy Center, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, 761-1 Sang-gye 7 Dong, No-won Gu, Seoul 139-707, Republic of Korea.
Jung
D E
DE
Kim
H D
HD
Lee
H S
HS
Kang
H-C
HC
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D007223:Infant; D018887:Landau-Kleffner Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000139:chemically induced; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone