title: Rufinamide for the treatment of refractory epilepsy secondary to neuronal migration disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of add-on rufinamide in children with refractory epilepsy symptomatic of neuronal migration disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 69 patients in a prospective, open-label, add-on treatment study from six Italian and one German centers for pediatric and adolescent epilepsy care according to the following criteria: age 3 or above; focal or generalized seizures refractory to at least three previous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), alone or in combination, secondary to neuronal migration disorders; two or more seizures per month in the last 6 months; use of another AED, but no more than three, at baseline. Informed consent from parents and/or caregivers was obtained at the time of enrollment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 69 patients with a mean age of 15 years (range 3-43). Forty-three patients (62%) had a 50-99% seizure reduction, and two (3%) became seizure-free. Seizure frequency was unchanged in 18 (26%) and worsened in 6 (8.7%). Twenty-nine patients (42%) reported adverse side effects, whilst taking rufinamide. Irritability was the most common side effect (11 patients), followed by decreased appetite (10), mood shift (6), vomiting (5), drowsiness (4), and decreased attention (2). Blood levels of concomitant anticonvulsive drugs were transiently abnormal in 5 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our population of severely refractory epilepsy due to neuronal migration disorders, rufinamide appeared to be effective and generally well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cusmai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology Unit, Systems Medicine Department, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moavero
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology Unit, Systems Medicine Department, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curatolo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matricardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spalice
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vigevano
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pruna
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology, Chair of Pediatrics, II Faculty of Medicine, "La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Surgery Unit, Neuromed Center, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Aniello
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Surgery Unit, Neuromed Center, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Gennaro
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Italy. Electronic address: gcoppola@unisa.it.
authors.forename: Giangennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D054081:Malformations of Cortical Development, Group II / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014230:Triazoles; C079703:rufinamide
keywords: Neuronal migration disorders; Partial epilepsy; Refractory seizures; Rufinamide