The optimum control of seizures requires adequate dosing of appropriately selected anti-epileptic medications. The availability of AEDs in Nigeria is limited and this constrains the prescription latitude of clinicians...The optimum control of seizures requires adequate dosing of appropriately selected anti-epileptic medications. The availability of AEDs in Nigeria is limited and this constrains the prescription latitude of clinicians. This study was conducted to describe the prescribing pattern of anti-epileptic drugs in the outpatient service of a psychiatric facility in southeast Nigeria. The case records of the epileptic patients attending the outpatient clinic of a psychiatric hospital were retrieved, reviewed and data abstracted with a prepared proforma. The information extracted include age, sex, marital status, residence, type of seizure and anti-seizure medications prescribed, frequency of administration and dosage among other variables. Of the 178 patients whose prescriptions and case records were assessed, males constituted 62.9% and females 37.1%. Most of the patients were single (78.1%) and the group had a mean age of 25.6 ± 10.9 years. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures predominated (61.2%) among the seizure types, whilst complex partial seizure type was identified in 35.4% of the patients. Patient diagnosis relied heavily on the use of clinical description alone. About 92.7% of the patients were treated with monotherapy, whereas 7.3% received two anti-epileptic drug combinations. Carbamazepine was the most frequently prescribed drug, and was utilized in the treatment of 87.9% of patients receiving monotherapy and 92.3% of individuals receiving two drug combinations. Adjunctive medications like benzodiazepines were rarely utilised to improve the effect of the AEDs. The patients that received polytherapy could only be distinguished from those that received monotherapy by higher frequency of epileptic auras and higher mean dose of AEDs per day. The predominant use of monotherapy is in accordance with the treatment recommendations and needs to be encouraged. The greater use of carbamazepine is probably related to its perceived benefits in the control of behavioural symptoms.展开更多
The efficacy and the tolerance of the AEDs have been extensibly studied in the past, however the effects of them on the EEG activity of epileptic patients have been scarcely studied. Eslicarbazepine is a third generat...The efficacy and the tolerance of the AEDs have been extensibly studied in the past, however the effects of them on the EEG activity of epileptic patients have been scarcely studied. Eslicarbazepine is a third generation blocker-sodium channels AED associated with a high reduction in the rate of partial seizures in epileptic patients. We designed an open label, non control study to determine the effects of Eslicarbazepine on the EEG activity of EP with focal seizures in a 12-week follow up. The EP with focal paroxystical activity enrolled in this study showed a statistical significant reduction in the rate of monthly seizures when Eslicarbazepine 800 mgs was added to a previous AED compared to those patients who only received an increase of the AED in monotherapy, concomitantly, EP treated with ESL added to a previous AED showed a statistically significant reduction in the mean occipital frequency and voltage amplitude in the central and parietal regions in the twelfth-week EEG compared to the control group.展开更多
Background Recently,new anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have been more frequently selected to treat epilepsy.In the present study,we evaluated the dynamic changes of efficacy and safety of three newer AEDs for treating ...Background Recently,new anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have been more frequently selected to treat epilepsy.In the present study,we evaluated the dynamic changes of efficacy and safety of three newer AEDs for treating partial epilepsy in China.Methods Patients were collected sequentially and were divided into three groups which accepted oxcarbazepine (OXC),lamotrigine (LTG) or topiramate (TPM) therapy.Each group included monotherapy and add-on therapy subgroups.We followed all patients for one year and recorded the indexes of efficacy and safety in detail.Results A total of 909 patients finished the follow-up observation.No significant difference was found in proportion of patients with 〉 or =50% reduction,〉 or =75% reduction and 100% seizure reduction in the LTG and OXC groups between the first and the second six months.In the TPM group there was a statistical difference between the first and the second six months in proportion of patients with 〉 or =50% reduction (P=-0.002),〉 or =75% reduction (P 〈0.0001) and 100% seizure reduction (P=0.009) in the monotherapy subgroup,and about 〉 or =75% reduction and 100% seizure reduction in the add-on therapy subgroup (P 〈0.0001).The efficacy between the add-on and monotherapy subgroups showed a statistical difference.The safety of the three newer AEDs was good.Conclusions The three newer AEDs all showed good efficacy and tolerability for partial epilepsy.And the efficacy can be maintained for at least one year.展开更多
<strong>Introduction:</strong> The epilepsy classification in under developed countries faces many difficulties in reporting, work-up and management strategies. Exploring local practice in general hospital...<strong>Introduction:</strong> The epilepsy classification in under developed countries faces many difficulties in reporting, work-up and management strategies. Exploring local practice in general hospitals will positively add to the welfare of patients with epilepsy. The objectives of this study were to assess the current medical practice in epilepsy work up and to study the selection of AEDs as per ILAE guidelines. <strong>Methods:</strong> This was a cross sectional-retrospective hospital based study, conducted between April and September 2016 in Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Patients aged 18 years old and above were enrolled. Epilepsy was defined as having at least two non-provoked seizures in the least 6 months in a patient who was assessed by clinical review and electroencephalogram (EEG). Epilepsy was classified as generalized, focal or unclassified. Medications refer to all internationally licensed antiepileptic medications (AEDs) in 2016.<strong> Results:</strong> One hundred adult Sudanese patients were enrolled for this study. The most common event described during the ictal phase was tongue biting in 50% of participants followed by body stiffness in 46%. Epilepsy was classified as generalized in 84%, focal in 11% and unclassified in 5% patients. In generalized epilepsy, the MRI detected 23.3% abnormal findings higher than the CT which detected 14.8% (4/27), p value = 0.032. In focal epilepsy, the CT detected 75% abnormal findings higher than the MRI which detected 33.3%, p value = 0.02. The AEDs used were as follows: Carbamazepine (CBZ) 48%, Na valproate (VP) 33%, Lamotrigine (LMT) 2%, Levetricetan (LVT) 1%, CBZ + VP 14% and CBZ + Oxcarbazepine (OXC) 2%. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The current medical practice in Omdurman teaching hospital should be modified to match the international league against epilepsy (ILAE) guidelines in workup, management, AEDs selection and classification of epilepsy.展开更多
文摘The optimum control of seizures requires adequate dosing of appropriately selected anti-epileptic medications. The availability of AEDs in Nigeria is limited and this constrains the prescription latitude of clinicians. This study was conducted to describe the prescribing pattern of anti-epileptic drugs in the outpatient service of a psychiatric facility in southeast Nigeria. The case records of the epileptic patients attending the outpatient clinic of a psychiatric hospital were retrieved, reviewed and data abstracted with a prepared proforma. The information extracted include age, sex, marital status, residence, type of seizure and anti-seizure medications prescribed, frequency of administration and dosage among other variables. Of the 178 patients whose prescriptions and case records were assessed, males constituted 62.9% and females 37.1%. Most of the patients were single (78.1%) and the group had a mean age of 25.6 ± 10.9 years. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures predominated (61.2%) among the seizure types, whilst complex partial seizure type was identified in 35.4% of the patients. Patient diagnosis relied heavily on the use of clinical description alone. About 92.7% of the patients were treated with monotherapy, whereas 7.3% received two anti-epileptic drug combinations. Carbamazepine was the most frequently prescribed drug, and was utilized in the treatment of 87.9% of patients receiving monotherapy and 92.3% of individuals receiving two drug combinations. Adjunctive medications like benzodiazepines were rarely utilised to improve the effect of the AEDs. The patients that received polytherapy could only be distinguished from those that received monotherapy by higher frequency of epileptic auras and higher mean dose of AEDs per day. The predominant use of monotherapy is in accordance with the treatment recommendations and needs to be encouraged. The greater use of carbamazepine is probably related to its perceived benefits in the control of behavioural symptoms.
文摘The efficacy and the tolerance of the AEDs have been extensibly studied in the past, however the effects of them on the EEG activity of epileptic patients have been scarcely studied. Eslicarbazepine is a third generation blocker-sodium channels AED associated with a high reduction in the rate of partial seizures in epileptic patients. We designed an open label, non control study to determine the effects of Eslicarbazepine on the EEG activity of EP with focal seizures in a 12-week follow up. The EP with focal paroxystical activity enrolled in this study showed a statistical significant reduction in the rate of monthly seizures when Eslicarbazepine 800 mgs was added to a previous AED compared to those patients who only received an increase of the AED in monotherapy, concomitantly, EP treated with ESL added to a previous AED showed a statistically significant reduction in the mean occipital frequency and voltage amplitude in the central and parietal regions in the twelfth-week EEG compared to the control group.
文摘Background Recently,new anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have been more frequently selected to treat epilepsy.In the present study,we evaluated the dynamic changes of efficacy and safety of three newer AEDs for treating partial epilepsy in China.Methods Patients were collected sequentially and were divided into three groups which accepted oxcarbazepine (OXC),lamotrigine (LTG) or topiramate (TPM) therapy.Each group included monotherapy and add-on therapy subgroups.We followed all patients for one year and recorded the indexes of efficacy and safety in detail.Results A total of 909 patients finished the follow-up observation.No significant difference was found in proportion of patients with 〉 or =50% reduction,〉 or =75% reduction and 100% seizure reduction in the LTG and OXC groups between the first and the second six months.In the TPM group there was a statistical difference between the first and the second six months in proportion of patients with 〉 or =50% reduction (P=-0.002),〉 or =75% reduction (P 〈0.0001) and 100% seizure reduction (P=0.009) in the monotherapy subgroup,and about 〉 or =75% reduction and 100% seizure reduction in the add-on therapy subgroup (P 〈0.0001).The efficacy between the add-on and monotherapy subgroups showed a statistical difference.The safety of the three newer AEDs was good.Conclusions The three newer AEDs all showed good efficacy and tolerability for partial epilepsy.And the efficacy can be maintained for at least one year.
文摘<strong>Introduction:</strong> The epilepsy classification in under developed countries faces many difficulties in reporting, work-up and management strategies. Exploring local practice in general hospitals will positively add to the welfare of patients with epilepsy. The objectives of this study were to assess the current medical practice in epilepsy work up and to study the selection of AEDs as per ILAE guidelines. <strong>Methods:</strong> This was a cross sectional-retrospective hospital based study, conducted between April and September 2016 in Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Patients aged 18 years old and above were enrolled. Epilepsy was defined as having at least two non-provoked seizures in the least 6 months in a patient who was assessed by clinical review and electroencephalogram (EEG). Epilepsy was classified as generalized, focal or unclassified. Medications refer to all internationally licensed antiepileptic medications (AEDs) in 2016.<strong> Results:</strong> One hundred adult Sudanese patients were enrolled for this study. The most common event described during the ictal phase was tongue biting in 50% of participants followed by body stiffness in 46%. Epilepsy was classified as generalized in 84%, focal in 11% and unclassified in 5% patients. In generalized epilepsy, the MRI detected 23.3% abnormal findings higher than the CT which detected 14.8% (4/27), p value = 0.032. In focal epilepsy, the CT detected 75% abnormal findings higher than the MRI which detected 33.3%, p value = 0.02. The AEDs used were as follows: Carbamazepine (CBZ) 48%, Na valproate (VP) 33%, Lamotrigine (LMT) 2%, Levetricetan (LVT) 1%, CBZ + VP 14% and CBZ + Oxcarbazepine (OXC) 2%. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The current medical practice in Omdurman teaching hospital should be modified to match the international league against epilepsy (ILAE) guidelines in workup, management, AEDs selection and classification of epilepsy.