J Korean Pediatr Soc.  2001 Jan;44(1):62-67.

Clinical Study of Effectiveness Topiramate in Children with Intractable Epilepsy

• Choi YM
• Chung SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: Topiramate(TPM) is a new anticonvulsant with multiple action mechanisms which should theoretically represent a wide therapeutic spectrum. However, there is still little clinical experience of its use in Asian children with epilepsy.
METHODS
The patients were total 96 children who were treated with more than 2 anticonvulsants but poorly controlled seizure activity. TPM was given as add-on therapy and evaluated the efficacy and adverse events prospectively. This study consisted of 8 weeks of baseline phase, 10- 16 weeks titration phase, and 8 weeks of stabilization phase. Clinical efficacy was classified into 4 groups : disappearance, marked improvement, improvement, no improvement.
RESULTS
When TPM was prescribed, a response of >50% reductions in seizure attacks was seen in 90.6% of cases(95.5% of partial type epilepsy) and disappearance was seen in 67.7% of cases (83.3% of generalized type epilepsy). Concommitent with the larger number of anticonvulsants a longer duration of epilepsy and more frequent seizure attack was showed more lower disappearance rate of seizure attack. Adverse event weight loss(9.4%), somnolence(7.3%), dizziness(5.2%), skin rash, decreased cognitive function, nocturia(3.1%) and headache(2.1%) were noted, but were mostly not serious.
CONCLUSION
TPM seems to be a promising new broad-spectrum anticonvulsant, which is efficacious and safe in children with intractable epilepsy.

Keyword

Topiramate; Partial seizure

MeSH Terms

Anticonvulsants
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Child*
Epilepsy*
Exanthema
Humans
Prospective Studies
Seizures
Anticonvulsants