title: Epilepsy with myoclonic absences - favourable response to add-on rufinamide treatment in 3 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy with myoclonic absences (EMA) is a rare epileptic syndrome with frequently poor response to antiepileptic treatment. Rufinamide (RUF) is a relatively new EMEA- and FDA-approved anticonvulsant licensed as an orphan drug for the adjunctive treatment of patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective data analysis in 3 patients was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Add-on RUF treatment was initiated in 3 boys with EMA refractory to conventional antiepileptic therapy (primidone + valproic acid, n=1; levetiracetame + ethosuximide, n=2). It resulted in complete cessation of all seizures in 2, and a 50% reduction of the seizure frequency in one child, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RUF add-on therapy should be considered in children with EMA not responding to conventional antiepileptic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. haeusler@rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Häusler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kluger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikanorova
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014230:Triazoles; C079703:rufinamide