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Mastroianni G, Ascoli M, Gasparini S, Brigo F, Cianci V, Neri S, Russo E, Aguglia U, Ferlazzo E. Therapeutic approach to difficult-to-treat typical absences and related epilepsy syndromes. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2021; 14:1427-1433. [PMID: 34289757 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2021.1959317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: typical absences (TAs), are brief, generalized epileptic seizures of abrupt onset and termination clinically manifesting with impairment of awareness and associated with 3 Hz spike-wave discharges on EEG. TAs may occur in different idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGE). Despite treatment with adequate anti-seizure medications (ASMs), TAs may persist in ~25% of subjects. This narrative review focuses on the therapeutic approach to difficult-to-treat TAs occurring in the setting of IGE.Areas covered: a literature search was conducted on the topic of treatment of TAs.Expert opinion: ethosuximide (ESX), valproic acid (VPA) and lamotrigine (LTG), alone or in combination, are considered the first-choice drugs. In women of childbearing potential, VPA should be avoided. Alternative therapies (benzodiazepines, levetiracetam, topiramate, or zonisamide) should be considered in subjects unresponsive to monotherapy after the exclusion of pseudo-drug resistance. Newer ASMs such as brivaracetam and perampanel seem to be promising options. Well-conducted clinical trials aimed to evaluate the efficacy of alternative monotherapy (beyond ESX, VPA or LTG) or combination of ASMs on difficult-to-treat TAs, are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Mastroianni
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan "BMM" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy
| | - Michele Ascoli
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan "BMM" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Sara Gasparini
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan "BMM" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano, Italy
| | - Vittoria Cianci
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan "BMM" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy
| | - Sabrina Neri
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan "BMM" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emilio Russo
- Science of Health Department, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Umberto Aguglia
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan "BMM" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Edoardo Ferlazzo
- Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan "BMM" Hospital, Reggio, Calabria, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, Catanzaro, Italy
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Orlandi N, Bartolini E, Audenino D, Coletti Moja M, Urso L, d'Orsi G, Pauletto G, Nilo A, Zinno L, Cappellani R, Zummo L, Giordano A, Dainese F, Nazerian P, Pescini F, Beretta S, Dono F, Gaudio LD, Ferlisi M, Marino D, Piccioli M, Renna R, Rosati E, Rum A, Strigaro G, Giovannini G, Meletti S, Cavalli SM, Contento M, Cottone S, Di Claudio MT, Florindo I, Guadagni M, Kiferle L, Lazzaretti D, Lazzari M, Coco DL, Pradella S, Rikani K, Rodorigo D, Sabetta A, Sicurella L, Tontini V, Turchi G, Vaudano AE, Zanoni T. Intravenous brivaracetam in status epilepticus: A multicentric retrospective study in Italy. Seizure 2021; 86:70-76. [PMID: 33561784 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE to evaluate the use, effectiveness, and adverse events of intravenous brivaracetam (BRV) in status epilepticus (SE). METHODS a retrospective multicentric study involving 24 Italian neurology units was performed from March 2018 to June 2020. A shared case report form was used across participating centres to limit biases of retrospective data collection. Diagnosis and classification of SE followed the 2015 ILAE proposal. We considered a trial with BRV a success when it was the last administered drug prior the clinical and/or EEG resolution of seizures, and the SE did not recur during hospital observation. In addition, we considered cases with early response, defined as SE resolved within 6 h after BRV administration. RESULTS 56 patients were included (mean age 62 years; 57 % male). A previous diagnosis of epilepsy was present in 21 (38 %). Regarding SE etiology classification 46 % were acute symptomatic, 18 % remote and 16 % progressive symptomatic. SE episodes with prominent motor features were the majority (80 %). BRV was administered as first drug after benzodiazepine failure in 21 % episodes, while it was used as the second or the third (or more) drug in the 38 % and 38 % of episodes respectively. The median loading dose was 100 mg (range 50-300 mg). BRV was effective in 32 cases (57 %). An early response was documented in 22 patients (39 % of the whole sample). The use of the BRV within 6 h from SE onset was independently associated to an early SE resolution (OR 32; 95 % CI 3.39-202; p = 0.002). No severe treatment emergent adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION BRV proved to be useful and safe for the treatment of SE. Time to seizures resolution appears shorter when it is administered in the early phases of SE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Orlandi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Neurology Department, OCB Hospital, AOU Modena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Bartolini
- Neurology Unit, Nuovo Ospedale Santo Stefano, USL Centro Toscana, Prato, Italy
| | | | | | - Lidia Urso
- Neurology and Stroke Unit, PO. S. Antonio Abate, Trapani, Italy
| | - Giuseppe d'Orsi
- Epilepsy Centre - S.C. Neurologia Universitaria, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Giada Pauletto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria Della Misericordia University Hospital, ASUFC, Udine, Italy
| | - Annacarmen Nilo
- Clinical Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria Della Misericordia University Hospital, ASUFC, Udine, Italy
| | - Lucia Zinno
- Neurology Unit, Maggiore Hospital, AOU Parma, Italy
| | | | - Leila Zummo
- Neurology and Stroke Unit, P.O. ARNAS-Civico, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Dainese
- Epilepsy Centre, UOC Neurology, ULSS3 Serenissima, Venice, Italy
| | - Peiman Nazerian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Simone Beretta
- Department of Neurology, Ospedale San Gerardo ASST Monza, University of Milano Bicocca, Italy
| | - Fedele Dono
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | | | | | - Daniela Marino
- Epilepsy Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Cardio-neuro-vascular Sciences, San Donato Hospital, Arezzo, Italy
| | | | - Rosaria Renna
- Neurological Clinic and Stroke Unit - "A. Cardarelli" Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Eleonora Rosati
- Neurology Unit 2, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Adriana Rum
- Neurology and Neurophysiopatology Unit, Aurelia Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Stefano Meletti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Neurology Department, OCB Hospital, AOU Modena, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Martina Guadagni
- Epilepsy Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Cardio-neuro-vascular Sciences, San Donato Hospital, Arezzo, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Kiferle
- Neurology Unit, Nuovo Ospedale Santo Stefano, USL Centro Toscana, Prato, Italy
| | - Delia Lazzaretti
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Daniele Lo Coco
- Neurology and Stroke Unit, P.O. ARNAS-Civico, Palermo, Italy
| | - Silvia Pradella
- Neurology Unit, Nuovo Ospedale Santo Stefano, USL Centro Toscana, Prato, Italy
| | | | - Davide Rodorigo
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Annarita Sabetta
- Epilepsy Centre - S.C. Neurologia Universitaria, Policlinico Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Luigi Sicurella
- Neurology and Stroke Unit, PO. S. Antonio Abate, Trapani, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Turchi
- Neurology Department, OCB Hospital, AOU Modena, Italy
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