Short term outcomes of topiramate monotherapy as a first-line treatment in newly diagnosed West syndrome.
10.3345/kjp.2011.54.9.380
- Author:
Gyu Min LEE
1
;
Kyung Suk LEE
;
Eun Hye LEE
;
Sajun CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sajchung@khmc.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
West syndrome;
Topiramate;
Monotherapy
- MeSH:
Aged;
Child;
Electroencephalography;
Female;
Fructose;
Humans;
Infant;
Infant, Newborn;
Male;
Neurologic Examination;
Sleep Stages;
Spasm;
Spasms, Infantile
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2011;54(9):380-384
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of topiramate monotherapy in West syndrome prospectively. METHODS: The study population included 28 patients (15 male and 13 female children aged 2 to 18 months) diagnosed with West syndrome. After a 2-week baseline period for documentation of the frequency of spasms, topiramate was initiated at 2 mg/kg/day. The dose was increased by 2 mg/kg every week to a maximum of 12 mg/kg/day. Clinical assessment was based on the parents' report and a neurological examination every 2 weeks for the first 2 months of treatment. The baseline electroencephalograms (EEGs) were compared with the post-treatment EEGs at 2 weeks and 1 month. RESULTS: West syndrome was considered to be cryptogenic in 7 of the 28 patients and symptomatic in 21 patients. After treatment, 11 patients (39%) became spasm-free, 6 (21%) had more than 50% spasmsreduction, 3 (11%) showed less than 50% reduction, and 8 (29%) did not respond. The effective daily dose for achieving more than 50% reduction in spasm frequency, including becoming spasm-free, was found to be 5.8+/-1.1 mg/kg/day. Nine patients (32%) showed complete disappearance of spasms and hypsarrhythmia, and 11 (39%) showed improved EEG results. Despite adverse events (4 instances of irritability, 3 of drowsiness, and 1 of decreased feeding), no patients discontinued the medication. CONCLUSION: Topiramate monotherapy seems to be effective and well tolerated as a first line therapy for West syndrome and is not associated with serious adverse effects.
