Efficacy and tolerability of zonisamide as add-on in brain tumor-related epilepsy: preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
Zonisamide (ZNS) is an antiepileptic drug (AED) with broad spectrum action that demonstrated a good efficacy in controlling seizures as add-on in adult and pediatric epilepsy. To date there have been no studies on ZNS in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate efficacy and tolerability of ZNS as add-on in BTRE.


METHODS
We followed six patients suffering from BTRE who had already been treated with other AEDs and who had had not experienced adequate seizure control. Three patients underwent chemotherapy while being treated with ZNS. Mean duration of follow-up was 8 months.


RESULTS
Mean seizure number in the last month prior to the introduction of ZNS had been 27.7/month. ZNS mean dosage was of 283.3 mg/day. At last follow-up, the mean seizure number was reduced to 8.8/month. Responder rate was 83.3%.Two patients discontinued the drug because of side effects. There were no other reported side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary data on the use of ZNS in add-on in patients with BTRE indicate that this drug may represent a valid alternative as add-on in this particular patient population. However, larger samples are necessary to draw definitive conclusions.
Maschio
M
M
Center for Tumor-related Epilepsy, Department of Neuroscience and Cervical-Facial Pathology, National Institute for Cancer Regina Elena, Rome, Italy. maschio@ifo.it
Dinapoli
L
L
Saveriano
F
F
Pompili
A
A
Carapella
C M
CM
Vidiri
A
A
Jandolo
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D000078305:Zonisamide
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000078305:Zonisamide