Topiramate in frontal lobe epilepsy

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 115; no. 2; pp. 132 - 135
• Main Authors: Verrotti, A., Sofia, V., Franzoni, E., Coppola, G., Manco, R., Ciambra, G. L., Savasta, S., Chiarelli, F., Iannetti, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2007; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; antiepileptic drugs; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Diseases of striated muscles. Neuromuscular diseases; Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe - drug therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; frontal lobe epilepsy; Fructose - adverse effects; Fructose - analogs & derivatives; Fructose - therapeutic use; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Infant; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; monotherapy; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Patient Compliance; Retrospective Studies; topiramate; Treatment Outcome; Drug; antiepileptic drugs; Nervous system diseases; Central nervous system disease; frontal lobe epilepsy; monotherapy; Anticonvulsant; Frontal lobe epilepsia; Cerebral disorder; topiramate
• ISSN: 0001-6314; 1600-0404
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2006.00758.x

Background –  Frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) is a type of epilepsy that is difficult to treat and there are few studies about the use of topiramate (TPM). Aim of the study –  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of TPM monotherapy in FLE. Methods –  The study group consisted of 55 (33 male; 22 female) patients. TPM was administered as a first drug (n = 16) or converted after previous treatment (n = 39). All patients were followed every 3 months for at least 1 year. The patients were subdivided into two groups: ‘newly diagnosed’ patients and ‘difficult‐to‐treat’ patients. Results –  Overall, all patients completed the 1‐year study. At the end of follow‐up, 10 patients showed disappearance of seizures and 33 patients showed improvement in seizure frequency. In particular, among the newly diagnosed patients 6/16 patients showed complete cessation of seizures and 5/16 patients showed very good response; in the other group, 4/39 patients showed complete cessation and 4/39 patients showed a very good response. No patients of both groups had worsening of seizures. No treatment‐limiting adverse events associated with TPM were reported. Conclusions –  TPM is effective in newly diagnosed patients with FLE; TPM can be considered for the treatment of FLE.