Abstract
Objective: This review summarizes the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, an intractable epileptic encephalopathy of early childhood. In particular, the review focuses on rufinamide, a recently released anticonvulsant medication with reported effectiveness in this epilepsy syndrome. Methods: A systematic literature search (PubMed) was performed to review the existing literature pertaining to the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome as well as studies involving rufinamide as an anticonvulsant medication. Results: The published literature to date documents a beneficial effect of rufinamide on children over 4 years old with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Studies indicate a significant decrease in tonic and atonic seizure frequency as well as total seizure frequency compared to placebo-treated children. Rufinamide appears to be well tolerated and a safe medication, somnolence and vomiting being the most common side effects. Conclusions: Rufinamide is a promising adjunctive therapy for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, an intractable childhood epilepsy. To ensure its optimal effectiveness, clinicians must be familiar with the medication's clinical response profile and potential for adverse effects.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 547-551 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Epilepsy
- Epileptic encephalopathy
- Lennox-gastaut syndrome
- Pediatric
- Rufinamide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
Cite this
Update on the management of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome with a focus on rufinamide. / Stafstrom, Carl.
In: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2009, p. 547-551.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Update on the management of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome with a focus on rufinamide
AU - Stafstrom, Carl
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Objective: This review summarizes the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, an intractable epileptic encephalopathy of early childhood. In particular, the review focuses on rufinamide, a recently released anticonvulsant medication with reported effectiveness in this epilepsy syndrome. Methods: A systematic literature search (PubMed) was performed to review the existing literature pertaining to the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome as well as studies involving rufinamide as an anticonvulsant medication. Results: The published literature to date documents a beneficial effect of rufinamide on children over 4 years old with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Studies indicate a significant decrease in tonic and atonic seizure frequency as well as total seizure frequency compared to placebo-treated children. Rufinamide appears to be well tolerated and a safe medication, somnolence and vomiting being the most common side effects. Conclusions: Rufinamide is a promising adjunctive therapy for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, an intractable childhood epilepsy. To ensure its optimal effectiveness, clinicians must be familiar with the medication's clinical response profile and potential for adverse effects.
AB - Objective: This review summarizes the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, an intractable epileptic encephalopathy of early childhood. In particular, the review focuses on rufinamide, a recently released anticonvulsant medication with reported effectiveness in this epilepsy syndrome. Methods: A systematic literature search (PubMed) was performed to review the existing literature pertaining to the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome as well as studies involving rufinamide as an anticonvulsant medication. Results: The published literature to date documents a beneficial effect of rufinamide on children over 4 years old with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Studies indicate a significant decrease in tonic and atonic seizure frequency as well as total seizure frequency compared to placebo-treated children. Rufinamide appears to be well tolerated and a safe medication, somnolence and vomiting being the most common side effects. Conclusions: Rufinamide is a promising adjunctive therapy for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, an intractable childhood epilepsy. To ensure its optimal effectiveness, clinicians must be familiar with the medication's clinical response profile and potential for adverse effects.
KW - Epilepsy
KW - Epileptic encephalopathy
KW - Lennox-gastaut syndrome
KW - Pediatric
KW - Rufinamide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449721894&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70449721894&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 19898669
AN - SCOPUS:70449721894
VL - 5
SP - 547
EP - 551
JO - Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
JF - Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
SN - 1176-6328
IS - 1
ER -