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Felbamate for infantile spasms syndrome resistant to first‐line treatments
Author(s) -
DozièresPuyravel Blandine,
Nasser Hala,
Bellavoine Vanina,
Ilea Adina,
Delanoe Catherine,
Auvin Stéphane
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.14427
Subject(s) - felbamate , medicine , pediatrics , anticonvulsant , epilepsy , psychiatry
Aim To analyse the effects of felbamate in refractory infantile spasms/West syndrome. Method We conducted a 10‐year retrospective study of infants (including all infants younger than 18mo) treated with felbamate for electroencephalography‐recorded epileptic spasms persisting after first‐line treatment. Results In total, 29 infants (17 males, 12 females) were included in the study. Felbamate was initiated at a mean age of 13.8 months (range 4.5–66mo) after sequential administration or combination of vigabatrin and oral steroids; a ketogenic diet was implemented in 23 infants. Eight infants became spasm‐free at a mean dose of 34.6mg/kg/day felbamate (range 26–45mg/kg/day). Mean duration of felbamate use was 19 months (range 1–67mo) for the 19 infants whose treatment was terminated. No severe side effects were observed. Reversible neutropenia led to withdrawal of felbamate in six patients. One spasm‐free patient demonstrated recurrence when felbamate was withdrawn. Interpretation N ‐methyl‐ d ‐aspartate receptors with felbamate controlled epileptic spasms in eight infants resistant to first‐line treatment should be targeted.