Rufinamide in refractory childhood epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
BACKGROUND
To report on the first multicenter Italian experience with rufinamide as adjunctive drug in children, adolescents and young adults with refractory childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients (19 males, 19 females), aged between 4 and 34 (mean 13.7 ± 8.3, median 12.5), all affected by different types of childhood-onset refractory epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, were treated with rufinamide as adjunctive drug for a mean period of 11.4 months (range 3-26 months).


RESULTS
Fifteen of 38 patients (39.5%) had a ≥ 50% seizure reduction in countable seizures. Complete seizure freedom was achieved in one of these patients (2.6%). Three patients (7.9%) had a 25-49% seizure reduction, whilst seizure frequency remained unchanged in 15 (39.5%) and increased in five patients (13.1%). Eleven patients (28.9%) reported adverse side effects. Vomiting was reported in five patients (13.1%); drowsiness, decreased appetite and irritability with migraine manifested in other four patients. They were transient and mild in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Rufinamide may be an effective and well-tolerated adjunctive drug for the treatment of refractory childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathies other than Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Rufinamide was most effective in patients with drop-attacks and (bi)frontal spike-wave discharges.
Coppola
G
G
Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Naples.
Grosso
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology Section, University of Siena, Siena.
Franzoni
E
E
Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bologna University, Bologna.
Veggiotti
P
P
Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, C. Mondino Institute, University of Pavia, Pavia.
Zamponi
N
N
Pediatric Neurology Department, G. Salesi Hospital, Ancona.
Parisi
P
P
Chair of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University.
Spalice
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, First Faculty of Medicine, Sapienza University, Sapienza.
Habetswallner
F
F
Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples.
Fels
A
A
Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples.
Verrotti
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti.
D'Aniello
A
A
Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Naples.
Mangano
S
S
Child Neuropsychiatry, Palermo University, Palermo.
Balestri
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology Section, University of Siena, Siena.
Curatolo
P
P
Pediatric Neuroscience Unit, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Pascotto
A
A
Clinic of Child Neuropsychiatry, Second University of Naples, Naples.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014230:Triazoles; C079703:rufinamide