Yıldız EP, Hızlı Z, Bektaş G, Ulak-Özkan M, Tatlı B, Aydınlı N, Çalışkan M, Özmen M. Efficacy of
rufinamide in childhood
refractory epilepsy. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 238-243.
Rufinamide has been used as a new
antiepileptic drug in the treatment of
drug-resistant epilepsy, in recent years. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of
rufinamide and its impact on seizure frequency in patients diagnosed with
drug-resistant epilepsy, where
seizures could not be controlled with `classical`
antiepileptic drugs. We retrospectively reviewed the data of epileptic patients who were followed up between January 2004 and December 2014 in the Pediatric Neurology Department. Patients who were diagnosed with `
drug resistant epilepsy` and treated with
rufinamide were evaluated. Decrease in seizure frequency and
drug side effects were assessed as parameters. A total of 38 patients (14 girls, 24 boys) with a mean age of 8.5 (range, 3.5-17) years were included in the study. The mean follow-up duration was 25.5 (23-29.5) months, while the mean maximal dose of
rufinamide was 32.5 (28-42) mg/kg/day. Response to treatment was assessed by the reduction in frequency of
seizures. The decrease was < 50% (essentially unresponsive to treatment) in 20 patients and 50‑99% in 8 patients. Ten patients (26.3%) remained seizure-free. The response rate for
tonic seizures was 50%. In
drop/attacks seizures, this ratio was found as 73%, which was quite high. Patients with myoclonic and
tonic-clonic seizures did not significantly benefit from
rufinamide. The rate of patients with Lennox-Gestaut syndrome (LGS) who responded very well (reduction in seizure frequency > 50%) was 55.5%. In the LGS group, patients with
drop/attacks showed the best response to treatment.
Rufinamide was not effective in two patients diagnosed with
Dravet syndrome.
Rufinamide can be safely used in pediatric patients who use multiple
antiepileptic drugs and are unresponsive to the treatment. It was seen to be effective especially in patients diagnosed with LGS and
drop/attacks types of
seizures.