title: Effect of pregabalin add-on treatment on seizure control, quality of life, and anxiety in patients with brain tumour-related epilepsy: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An open pilot study to evaluate the effect of pregabalin (PGB) as add-on therapy on seizure control, quality of life, and anxiety in patients with brain tumour-related epilepsy (BTRE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 25 consecutive patients with BTRE and uncontrolled seizures. At baseline and during follow-up, patients underwent a complete physical and neurological examination and were evaluated using the QOLIE 31P (V2), EORTC QLQ C30, Adverse Events Profile, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). At baseline, a seizure diary was given.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During follow-up, 17 patients underwent chemotherapy, none underwent radiotherapy, 9 had disease progression, and 3 died. Mean duration of follow-up was 4.1 months. Mean PGB dosage was 279 mg/day. At baseline, mean weekly seizure frequency was 5.3 (±10) and at last available follow-up visit was 2.8±5. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.016). The responder rate was 76%. Ten patients dropped out; 4 as a result of seizure worsening, 1 as a result of unchanged seizure frequency, 3 as a result of a lack of compliance, and 2 as a result of side effects. Based on the QOLIE-31-P, a significant improvement of the subscale "seizure worry" (p=0.004) and a significant decrease in distress scores related to AEDs and social life (p=0.009 and p=0.008, respectively) were observed. A significant decrease in HAM-A score (p=0.002) was documented. CONCLUSIONS; These data indicate that PGB may represent a valid alternative as add-on treatment in this patient population, based on its efficacy on seizure control and anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Center for Tumor-related Epilepsy, UOSD Psychiatry, Italy. maschio@ifo.it
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maschio
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dinapoli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sperati
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabi
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidiri
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pompili
authors.forename: Carmine Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Carapella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000078306:Clobazam; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069583:Pregabalin; D011788:Quality of Life; D000077236:Topiramate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077236:Topiramate; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000078306:Clobazam; D005632:Fructose; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010889:Piracetam