Retrospective analysis of the effectiveness of first-line antiepileptic drugs for generalized onset and unclassified epileptic seizures in Chinese children.
OBJECTIVE
Based on the time until treatment failure, we retrospectively analyzed 389 children to compare the long-term effectiveness of first-line antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in children with generalized onset or unclassified epileptic seizures.


METHODS
Analyses were based on time until treatment failure and time until remission.


RESULTS
In terms of time until treatment failure, the failure rates of topiramate and carbamazepine were higher than that of sodium valproate (p < 0.05). For time until 1-year remission, sodium valproate was found to be significantly better than either topiramate or carbamazepine (p < 0.05). For the subgroup with generalized onset epilepsy, sodium valproate was much better than either topiramate or carbamazepine (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between topiramate and carbamazepine (p = 0.319). For unclassified epileptic seizures, no significant differences were found among the three AEDs.


CONCLUSIONS
Sodium valproate should be the drug of choice for patients with children with generalized onset, and no significant differences were found among the three AEDs in unclassified epileptic seizures.
Ding
Ying-Xue
YX
Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zou
Li-Ping
LP
Ma
Ming-Sheng
MS
Wang
Ying
Y
Meng
Lu-Liang
LL
Fang
Fang
F
Ding
Chang-Hong
CH
D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077236:Topiramate; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid