First, do no harm: the risks of overtreating children with epilepsy

Primeiramente, não causar dano: os riscos do excesso de medicações no tratamento da epilepsia na infância

First, do no harm: the risks of overtreating children with epilepsy

Primeiramente, não causar dano: os riscos do excesso de medicações no tratamento da epilepsia na infância

Eunice Chuang^I; Marilisa M. Guerreiro^IV; Sara Y. Tsuchie^I; Angelica Santucci^II; Carlos A. M. Guerreiro^IV; Maria Augusta Montenegro^III

Department of Neurology - State University of Campinas SP, Brazil (UNICAMP)

^IAluna de Medicina

^IINeurologista Infantil

^IIIProfessora Doutora

^IVProfessor Titular

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although overtreatment with antiepileptic drugs contributes to the morbidity associated with epilepsy, many children still are overtreated.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the withdrawal of at least one antiepileptic drug (AED) in children with refractory epilepsy using polytherapy enable a better seizure control.

METHOD: This was a prospective study. Children with refractory epilepsy using at least two AEDs were included. Once the patient, or guardian, agreed to participate in the study, one or more AED were slowly tapered off. The remaining AEDs dosages could be adjusted as needed, but a new AED could not be introduced.

RESULTS: Fifteen patients were evaluated, three girls; ages ranging from 3 to 18 (mean=8.7 years). After at least one AED withdrawal, two (13.5%) patients became seizure free, seizures improved >50% in 5 (33.5%) patients, did not change in 5 (33.5%), and seizure frequency became worse in 3 (20%). Adverse events improved in 12 patients (80%).

CONCLUSION: The withdrawal of at least one AED is a valuable option in the treatment of selected children with refractory epilepsy.

Key words: epilepsy, children, antiepileptic drug, overtreatment.

RESUMO

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar do tratamento excessivo com drogas antiepilépticas (DAE) contribuir para a morbidade associada à epilepsia, muitas crianças ainda são submetidas a politerapia desnecessária.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a retirada de pelo menos uma DAE em crianças com epilepsia refratária utilizando politerapia pode proporcionar melhor controle das crises epilépticas.

MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo prospectivo. Crianças com epilepsia refratária em uso de pelo menos duas DAE foram incluídas. Após assinatura do consentimento informado, uma ou mais DAE foram lentamente retiradas. As doses das outras DAE que não foram retiradas poderiam ser ajustadas se necessário, mas uma nova DAE não pode ser introduzida.

RESULTADOS: Quinze pacientes foram avaliados, três eram meninas, com idades entre 3 e 18 anos (média=8,7). Após a retirada de pelo menos uma DAE, 2 (13,5%) pacientes ficaram livre de crises, as crises melhoraram em 5 (33,5%), não mudaram em 5 (33,5%) e a frequencia das crises pioraram em 3 (20%) pacientes. Os eventos adversos melhoraram em 12 patientes (80%).

CONCLUSÃO: A retirada de pelo menos uma DAE é uma opção válida no tratamento de crianças com epilepsia refratária.

Palavras-chave: epilepsia, infância, droga antiepiléptica, tratamento excessivo.

Most children with epilepsy become seizure free after the introduction of one antiepileptic drug (AED)^1,2. There is universal agreement that the prescription of a single agent at the lowest therapeutic dosage constitutes the best practice in the treatment of epilepsy^3,4. This is the only way to avoid the risks of AED overtreatment⁴. Despite that, the use of polytherapy remains, especially if the first AED fails to control the seizures.

It is known that the reduction of one or more AED is possible without an increase in seizure frequency^5-7. Moreover, AEDs may aggravate pre-existing seizures and trigger new seizure types⁸.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if the withdrawal of at least one AED in children with refractory epilepsy using polytherapy can improve seizure control.

METHOD

This was a prospective study conducted at the pediatric epilepsy clinic of our University Hospital from January 2005 to December 2005. Inclusion criteria consisted of age between 1 and 18 years-old, diagnosis of refractory epilepsy, use of at least two AEDs, signature of informed consent approved by the Ethical Committee of our institution.

Once the patient, or guardian, agreed to participate in the study, one or more AEDs were slowly tapered off. The remaining AEDs dosages could be adjusted as needed, but a new AED could not be introduced.

After drug withdrawn we assessed seizure frequency and adverse events. Routine visits were scheduled and patients were instructed to seek medical care at our institution as needed, especially in case of seizure exacerbation.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the protocol, three girls and 10 boys; ages ranging from 3 to 18 (mean=8.7 years). Table 1 shows the characteristics of the patients.

After at least one AED withdrawal, two (13.5%) patients became seizure free, seizures improved >50% in 5 (33.5%) patients, did not change in 5 (33.5%), and seizure frequency became worse in 3 (20%). Adverse events improved in 12 patients (80%; Table 2).

It should be noted that due to ethical issues, the doses of the remaining AED could be adjusted as needed. This probably contributed to seizure improvement in two patients (patients 2 and 8). However, five patients (patients 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14) presented improvement in seizure control after the withdraw of one AED, without any modification in the remaining AEDs dosages.

DISCUSSION

There is no question that seizure freedom is the main goal for patients, families and doctors dealing with epilepsy. However, a small percentage of children will present refractory seizures, and will not become seizure-free despite adequate AED treatment^9-11. Epilepsy generally demands prolonged AED treatment which is often associated with drug toxicity, especially when there is the use of an excessive – and sometimes unnecessary – number of AEDs^4,12-14.

Although there is increasing awareness that overtreatment with AEDs contributes to the morbidity associated with epilepsy⁴, many children still are overtreated. One possible explanation can be the fact that seizures are probably one of the most frightening event a parent can experience. For that reason, parents often will take the child with refractory epilepsy to as many doctors as needed to have their seizures controlled. In addition, most parents will try almost anything if there is a small hope of seizure freedom. As for doctors, it is sometimes too hard to resist the family’s desperate question "Can we add a new drug?"

Our findings show that the reduction of one or more AED is possible without an increase in seizure frequency, which is in keeping with other studies^5-7. In addition, two patients became seizure free.

It should be kept in mind that the outcome of epilepsy treatment should not be measured only by the percentage of seizure reduction¹⁵. Quality of life is related not only to seizure control, but also to adverse events. We found that the withdraw of one AED provided a considerable improvement in the adverse events of five (33.5%) patients despite of no improvement in seizure control. This enable a better quality of life, and families referred that their children were feeling much better, despite no seizure control.

Epilepsy is a frightening condition, and some families cannot cope with a single febrile seizure. However, it is surprising how well many parents of a severely handicapped child – and above all, the children themselves – can sometimes cope very well with seizures. After the protocol, the substantial improvement in drug related adverse events enabled one of our patients with cerebral palsy to go back to school (patient 6).

One possible limitation of our study was that, according to ethical issues, the remaining AEDs dosages could be adjusted as needed. Higher doses of the remaining AED probably contributed to seizure improvement in two patients. However, five patients presented improvement in seizure control after the withdraw of one AED, without any modification in the remaining AEDs dosages.

We conclude that although a larger sample is needed in order to confirm our findings, the reduction of one AED in selected children with refractory epilepsy can be associated with less adverse events and better quality of life without worsening of seizure frequency. In addition, a few patients may present an improvement in seizure control.

Received 4 August 2006. Accepted 30 October 2006.

Eunice Chuang and Sara Y. Tsuchie are medical students and received a scholarship from CNPq.

Marilisa M. Guerreiro, MD, PhD - Department of Neurology - FCM/Unicamp - P.O. Box 6111 - 13083-970 Campinas SP - Brazil. E-mail: [e-mail]

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 Mar 2007
• Date of issue
  Mar 2007

History

• Received
  04 Aug 2006
• Accepted
  30 Oct 2003