Treatment with Sulthiame (Ospolot®) in Benign Partial Epilepsy of Childhood and Related Syndromes: An Open Clinical and EEG Study

Abstract

The effect of Sulthiame on the EEG and on clinical seizures was evaluated in an open uncontrolled study in 25 children with focal sharp waves on the EEG (FSW). 16 children had typical benign partial epilepsy with rolandic spikes (BPERS), 5 children with atypical forms and 4 children with no clinical seizures but cognitive disturbances possibly related to the FSW. The effect of Sulthiame in suppressing the EEG discharges was evaluated on the waking and sleep EEG before introduction of the drug, and at 3 - 6 months, 6 to 12 months and beyond while under therapy. The children were followed clinically for one to several years. The EEG discharges disappeared or decreased under Sulthiame in 13/21 cases at 3 to 6 months but reappeared in 3/13 cases beyond this period. No case had a worsening of the EEG or of clinical seizures under Sulthiame, and no cognitive stagnation was noted. Our data confirm the good tolerance and positive effects on the EEG and justify systematic trials of this drug in the partial “functional” epilepsies, especially when negative cognitive consequences of the epileptic discharges are suspected.

Key words

Benign partial epilepsy of childhood - focal sharp waves - rolandic epilepsy - Sulthiame - drug therapy

References

• 1 Deonna T, Zesiger P, Davidoff V, Maeder M, Mayor C, Roulet E. Benign partial epilepsy of childhood: a neuropsychological and EEG study of cognitive function.  Dev Med Child Neurol. 2000;  42 595-603
• 2 Doose H, Bayer W K, Ernst J P, Tuxhorn I, Volzke E. Benign partial epilepsy. Treatment with sulthiame.  Dev Med Child Neurol. 1988;  30 683-684
• 3 Gross-Selbeck G. Treatment of benign partial epilepsies of childhood, including atypical forms.  Neuropediatrics. 1995;  26 45-50
• 4 Guerrini R, Belmonte A, Genton P. Antiepileptic drug-induced worsening of seizures in children.  Epilepsia. 1998;  39 (Suppl 3) S2-S10
• 5 May T W, Korn-Merker E, Rambeck B, Boenigk H E. Pharmacokinetics of sulthiame in epileptic patients.  Therap Drug Monitor. 1994;  16 251-257
• 6 Perucca E. Sulthiame. Dam M, Gram L Comprehensive Epileptology. New York; Raven Press 1990: 617-620
• 7 Prats J M, Garaizar C. Garcia-Nieto ML, Madoz P. Antiepileptic drugs and atypical evolution of idiopathic partial epilepsy.  Pediatr Neurol. 1998;  18 402-406
• 8 Rating D, Wolf C, Bast T. Sulthiame as monotherapy in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Sulthiame study group.  Epilepsia. 2000;  41 1284-1288
• 9 Seidel W T, Mitchell W C. Cognitive and behavioral effects of carbamazepine in children: data from benign rolandic epilepsy.  J Child Neurol. 1999;  14 716-723
• 10 Weglage J. A previously unpublished side effect of sulthiame in a patient with rolandic epilepsy.  Neuropediatrics. 1999;  30 50