Refractory focal epilepsy in a patient with methylmalonic aciduria: case report on positive and long-lasting effect of rufinamide

Current role of rufinamide in the treatment of childhood epilepsy: literature review and treatment guidelines

PURPOSE

The literature on the efficacy and safety of rufinamide in childhood-onset epilepsy syndromes currently includes approximately 600 paediatric patients. This paper summarizes the views of a panel of experienced European epileptologists with regard to the current role of rufinamide in the treatment of childhood epilepsies.

RESULTS

Rufinamide is effective in decreasing the seizure frequency in the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), especially tonic and atonic seizures. It might consequently be preferred to other drugs as a second-line treatment for LGS when drop-attacks are frequent. The mean responder rate in the published studies is 38% with seizure freedom achieved in 2.4% of patients. Rufinamide has shown some efficacy in epileptic encephalopathies other than LGS. It can be also effective as adjunctive therapy in children and adolescents with drug-resistant partial seizures. The available data suggest that rufinamide has an acceptable risk/benefit ratio with quite a low risk of aggravating seizures. Common adverse effects (somnolence, nausea and vomiting) are usually mild and self-limiting; they are more frequently observed during titration than in the maintenance phase, suggesting that low escalation rates might be associated with fewer adverse effects. Rufinamide appears to have a favourable cognitive profile compared with other antiepileptic drugs.

CONCLUSION

Rufinamide is only approved for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS in children 4 years of age and older. There are very few data on rufinamide treatment at the onset of LGS or early in the course of the disorder; whether early treatment will improve outcome has yet to be determined.

Advancing the management of childhood epilepsies

Childhood epilepsies comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders and syndromes that vary in terms of severity, prognosis and treatment requirements. Effective management requires early, accurate recognition and diagnosis, and a holistic approach that addresses each individual's medical and psychosocial needs within the context of their overall health status and quality of life. With increasing understanding of underlying aetiologies, new approaches to management and treatment are emerging. For example, genetic testing is beginning to provide a tool to aid differential diagnosis and a means of predicting predisposition to particular types of epilepsy. Despite the availability of an increasing number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)--due not only to the development of new AEDs, but also to changes in regulatory requirements that have facilitated clinical development--seizure control and tolerability continue to be suboptimal in many patients, and there is therefore a continuing need for new treatment strategies. Surgery and other non-pharmacological treatments (e.g. vagus nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet) are already relatively well established in paediatric epilepsy. New pharmacological treatments include generational advances on existing AEDs and AEDs with novel modes of action, and non-AED pharmacological interventions, such as immunomodulation. Emerging technologies include novel approaches allowing the delivery of medicinal agents to specific areas of the brain, and 'closed-loop' experimental devices employing algorithms that allow treatment (e.g., electrical stimulation) to be targeted both spatially and temporally. Although in early stages of development, cell-based approaches (e.g., focal targeting of adenosine augmentation) and gene therapy may also provide new treatment choices in the future.

Efficacy and safety of rufinamide in pediatric epilepsy

Rufinamide is a novel anticonvulsant medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008 for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients 4 years of age and older, based upon clinical trials demonstrating clinical efficacy and tolerability. Rufinamide is especially effective for tonic-atonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, but is subsequently proving to be safe and effective in clinical practice for a broad patient population with refractory epilepsy. Although further research and clinical experience is needed, rufinamide holds the promise to positively impact the care of children with epilepsy. In this review, we review the use of rufinamide in pediatric epilepsy, with a focus on efficacy and safety.

First long-term experience with the orphan drug rufinamide in children with myoclonic-astatic epilepsy (Doose syndrome)

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of the orphan drug rufinamide (RUF) in children with pharmacoresistant myoclonic-astatic epilepsy (MAE, Doose syndrome).

METHODS

This was a retrospective European multicenter study on eight patients who had started an intention-to-treat trial of RUF between July 2007 and June 2010. Clinical information was collected via questionnaire. Responder rate was defined as reduction of seizure frequency ≥50% in comparison to four weeks before starting RUF. Maximum follow-up was eighteen months.

RESULTS

Responder rates were 7/8 patients after 3 months, 6/8 patients after 6 months and 5/8 patients after 12 months. RUF seemed particularly effective in the prevention of myoclonic-astatic seizures (comparable with drop attacks in Lennox-Gastaut-Syndrome, for which RUF is particularly effective). Some loss of efficacy was noticed in the long-term observation. Side-effects occurred in two patients. Seizure aggravation was not observed.

CONCLUSION

RUF seems to be a promising therapeutic option in children with MAE. Further studies are warranted to confirm these first observations.

Rufinamide efficacy and safety as adjunctive treatment in children with focal drug resistant epilepsy: the first Italian prospective study

Rufinamide is a new antiepileptic drug approved as add-on treatment in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome from the age of 4 years, and for the treatment of focal seizures in adults and adolescents. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of add-on Rufinamide in the treatment of childhood focal drug resistant epilepsy. We recruited 70 patients for a prospective, add-on, open-label study. Inclusion criteria were: 3 years of age or more; focal drug resistant epilepsy despite the use of three previous AEDs; use of at least one other AED, but no more than three at baseline; more than one seizure per month in the previous 6 months. Rufinamide efficacy was observed up to 12 months of follow-up, with a total responder rate of 38.57%. We found the best results in focal epilepsies due to structural/metabolic etiology (42.6%). The responder rate was similar for focal seizures with secondary generalization, simple focal seizures other than myoclonic jerks, and complex partial seizures. Response to Rufinamide was not related to the age. Our experience suggests that Rufinamide can be effective in reducing focal seizure frequency in children with drug resistant epilepsy, and that it can be considered as a safe drug.