title: Pharmacotherapy of focal epilepsy in children: a systematic review of approved agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Partial-onset seizures contribute the bulk of seizure burden in childhood epilepsy. The therapeutic decision making involves consideration of factors specific to drug, patient and socioeconomic situation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper systematically reviews the available efficacy/effectiveness evidence for various anti-epileptic drugs (AED) as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were identified by a structured PubMed search, supplemented by an additional hand search of reference lists and authors' files.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible studies were reviewed and data extracted into tables. Included RCTs were classified based on accepted published criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only efficacy and effectiveness outcome measures were evaluated since there is little scientifically rigorous comprehensive AED adverse effects data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxcarbazepine is the only AED with Class I evidence for efficacy/effectiveness as initial monotherapy for partial-onset seizures in children. Carbamazepine, clobazam, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, topiramate, valproate, vigabatrin and zonisamide have, at best, Class III efficacy/effectiveness evidence for monotherapy of partial-onset seizures in children. For adjunctive therapy, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine and topiramate have Class I efficacy/effectiveness evidence for treatment of pediatric partial-onset seizures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This efficacy/effectiveness analysis must not be used in isolation when selecting therapy. AED selection for a specific child needs to integrate a drug's efficacy/effectiveness data with its safety and tolerability profile, pharmacokinetic properties, available formulations, and patient specific characteristics. It is critical that physicians and patients incorporate all these relevant variables when choosing AED therapy.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Division of Neurology, MLC# 2015, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Ravindra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.forename: Tracy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Glauser
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D017277:Drug Approval; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants