Epilepsy in children | Top 38 novel treatment findings

COVID-19 vaccines increase seizure frequency in epilepsy patients.

Vaccination provides protection against COVID-19, reducing the risk of severe illness and complications associated with the virus.

Study published: 2023-05-08

Epilepsy surgery improves prediction of seizure freedom in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

The study found that improved feature selection and collaboration could enhance the prediction of post-operative seizure freedom, leading to better surgical candidate selection.

Study published: 2023-02-21

Vagus nerve stimulation reduces seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

The study found that 45% to 65% of patients achieved at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency after VNS treatment. The clinical prediction model developed showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.7013 for the training sample, indicating a reasonable ability to predict VNS response.

Study published: 2022-01-14

Single pulse electrical stimulation reduces seizures in focal epilepsy patients.

The application of SPES resulted in power suppression in connected electrodes and a decrease in IED rates, suggesting that stimulation can effectively modulate neural activity and potentially reduce seizure frequency in focal epilepsy patients.

Study published: 2023-10-31

SEEG-guided resective epilepsy surgery reduces seizures in children with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

Outcomes showed that 68.2% of patients achieved seizure freedom (SF) at a median follow-up of 19.5 months, indicating a significant success rate for the procedure.

Study published: 2021-09-22

Responsive Neurostimulation reduces seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Ictal EEG changes were consistently detected in the CM and AN of the thalamus during neocortical seizures, suggesting the feasibility of using thalamic RNS for seizure control.

Study published: 2023-06-29

Surgical removal of brain lesions improves seizure control in epilepsy patients

Identification of somatic genetic variants correlated with seizure onset and surgical outcomes, leading to refined histopathological classifications in 20.5% of cases. The study provides insights into the genetic landscape of epileptogenic lesions, potentially guiding future treatment strategies.

Study published: 2022-03-15

Surgical intervention for epilepsy improves seizure freedom in patients with abnormal MRI findings.

The study highlights that patients with an abnormal MRI have a significantly higher chance of achieving seizure freedom post-surgery (66.9%) compared to those with a normal MRI (45.5%).

Study published: 2022-05-18

Parent-led online sleep intervention improves sleep quality in children with Rolandic epilepsy.

The primary outcome is a reduction in parent-reported sleep problem scores, indicating improved sleep quality for children with Rolandic epilepsy. The intervention aims to enhance overall child well-being, learning, memory, and parental quality of life.

Study published: 2022-05-31

Responsive neurostimulation therapy reduces seizures in medication-resistant epilepsy.

Over 50% of patients experience a reduction in seizures by 50% or more after one year, and over 70% are responders at three years.

Study published: 2021-02-09

Surgical removal of seizure zones improves outcomes in epilepsy patients

Patients with better functional connectivity profiles as assessed by rs-fMRI had improved surgical outcomes, with some achieving Engel classification Ia (seizure-free) post-surgery.

Study published: 2023-01-11

Personalized multi-channel transcranial direct current stimulation reduces seizures in drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

The study found a highly significant reduction in IED frequency, with a decrease of 37% to 81% over the five days of stimulation, demonstrating the effectiveness of the personalized mc-tDCS in reducing epileptic activity.

Study published: 2023-09-06

Effective SEEG-guided surgery for TLE

The study demonstrated a one-year seizure freedom rate of 73% among resection patients, with no significant variation across different classifications of TLE. This indicates a high success rate for seizure control following the tailored surgical approach.

Study published: 2024-07-22

Surgical intervention reduces drug-resistant seizures in children with epilepsy lesions.

Identification of candidate disease-causing somatic variations in 56% of patients, contributing to the understanding of the genetic basis of epilepsy-associated lesions and potential new therapeutic targets.

Study published: 2021-12-09

Stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy improves seizure freedom in temporal lobe epilepsy.

The study found that patients with specific seizure onset patterns (SOPs) such as low voltage fast activity had a significantly higher probability of achieving seizure freedom (46%) compared to those with other patterns (0%).

Study published: 2022-11-17

Deep brain stimulation reduces seizures in drug-resistant focal epilepsy patients

The study found that elevated thalamic spikes and fast ripples during sleep were associated with unfavorable surgical outcomes, while lower rates of these activities during rest correlated with better outcomes. Enhanced thalamo-cortical connectivity during sleep was also linked to poor surgical prognosis, suggesting that thalamic activity can inform treatment decisions.

Study published: 2024-04-01

Sodium channel blockers improve seizure control in SCN2A-related epilepsy.

Patients with gain-of-function mutations in early-onset epilepsies responded well to sodium channel blockers, with phenytoin being the most commonly reported effective treatment.

Study published: 2023-02-24

Sodium channel blockers improve seizure control in SCN8A-DEE patients.

The survey indicated that sodium channel blockers provided the best subjective seizure control and improved quality of life for patients. However, the high proportion of patients who previously tried and stopped ASMs highlights a significant unmet treatment need.

Study published: 2021-12-02

Valproic acid reduces epilepsy severity in patients with KCNC2 variants.

Functional analysis revealed gain-of-function in severe epilepsy phenotypes and loss-of-function in milder phenotypes, indicating a potential for precision medicine based on genotype-phenotype correlations.

Study published: 2021-05-23

Anti-seizure medications reduce seizure frequency in patients with STXBP1-related disorders.

Clonazepam, clobazam, topiramate, and levetiracetam were found to significantly reduce seizure frequency and/or maintain seizure freedom in patients with early-onset seizures and epileptic spasms.

Study published: 2023-06-28

Anti-seizure medication improves seizure control in newly diagnosed epilepsy.

Positive outcomes include a 63.7% rate of seizure remission within one year of treatment initiation. Early seizure control is crucial for preventing further disruptions to seizure-related networks and improving long-term prognosis.

Study published: 2024-01-13

Early anti-seizure medications reduce seizures in STXBP1 disorder patients.

The study found that early intervention with specific anti-seizure medications led to reduced seizure frequency, and individuals with neonatal seizures followed by seizure offset by 12 months had more predictable seizure trajectories.

Study published: 2023-05-11

Surgical removal of focal cortical dysplasia improves seizure outcomes in epilepsy patients.

The study found that seizure freedom rates varied significantly with FCD location, with rates around 30% in visual, motor, and premotor areas, and up to 75% in superior temporal and frontal gyri. The predictive model for postsurgical seizure freedom had a positive predictive value of 70% and a negative predictive value of 61%.

Study published: 2021-07-19

On-scalp MEG improves epilepsy detection

On-scalp MEG detected IEDs in all children with higher amplitudes (2.3-4.8 times) and SNR (27-60% higher) compared to cryogenic MEG, indicating improved diagnostic capabilities.

Study published: 2021-09-12

The study identifies genetic variants to improve epilepsy treatment in children.

The study successfully identified and validated mosaic variants in DNA extracted from trace brain tissue on sEEG electrodes in patients with DRE. This approach demonstrated a relationship between genetic abnormalities and seizure activity, suggesting its potential for advancing precision medicine in epilepsy treatment.

Study published: 2024-07-22

Repetitive thalamic stimulation reduces seizure activity in drug-resistant epilepsy patients.

Significant reduction in the amplitude of evoked potentials from remote regions after high-frequency stimulation, indicating changes in effective connectivity that accumulate over time.

Study published: 2024-03-04

Adaptive trial design improves epilepsy treatment

The adaptive trial design resulted in a modest increase in statistical power to identify effective treatments, with only 8% of participants remaining in the placebo group throughout the trial. This approach aims to maximize the time spent in effective treatment groups, thereby improving overall treatment outcomes.

Study published: 2020-10-13

Optimized seizure outcomes via virtual resection

The study found that utilizing fast ripple metrics can accurately predict seizure freedom post-resection. In patients who were not seizure-free, adjusting the resection boundaries based on FR metrics led to improved outcomes, with some patients achieving virtual seizure freedom. Additionally, targeting RNS stimulation to high-rate FR sites showed potential for enhancing seizure outcomes.

Study published: 2024-06-29

Responsive neurostimulation reduces seizure risk in epilepsy patients.

The study found that background EEG features tracked multidien cycles in dIEA, suggesting a relationship between brain state and seizure risk. Neurostimulation was shown to suppress the coupling between EEG features and dIEA, potentially aiding in seizure management.

Study published: 2023-07-07

Low frequency EEG predicts seizure onset

The interictal EEG biomarkers correctly classified mesial temporal SOZ electrodes with 87% specificity and 80% positive predictive value, and predicted patient outcomes after surgical resection with 91% specificity and 87% positive predictive value.

Study published: 2021-06-07

Perinatal stroke leads to epilepsy

Children with neonatal seizure onset and recurrent seizures generally respond well to treatment. Early intervention and therapy can lead to age-appropriate participation in life despite the challenges posed by PIS.

Study published: 2021-10-01

Biperiden may prevent post-traumatic epilepsy

The study aimed to provide initial evidence on the potential of biperiden to reduce the incidence of post-traumatic epilepsy, suggesting that it may influence the later development of seizures in patients with TBI.

Study published: 2023-11-10

Steroids and immunoglobulin improve outcomes in children with FIRES syndrome

Despite the lack of identifiable genetic causes, the study highlights a heterogeneous range of treatment strategies and emphasizes the need for further research into novel diagnostic and treatment approaches for FIRES.

Study published: 2023-02-16

Anti-seizure medications improve brain network organization in first seizure patients.

Post-treatment, 75% of subjects exhibited increased network small-worldness, indicating improved brain network organization. Changes were most notable in superior frontoparietal and inferior frontal and temporal regions, which are associated with cognitive functions.

Study published: 2023-09-02

Antiseizure medication discontinuation discussions rare

The study found that 53% of patients who were seizure-free for at least one year had documented discussions about ASM discontinuation, and 21% planned to discontinue at least one ASM. For those seizure-free for at least two years, these figures increased to 65% and 26%, respectively.

Study published: 2022-12-30

Frequent epilepsy in argininosuccinic aciduria

The study found that epilepsy is frequent and polymorphic in ASA, with early-onset epilepsy and electroencephalographic background asymmetry being significant predictors of pharmacoresistance. Patients with epilepsy also exhibited higher rates of neurodevelopmental complications, including speech delays and autism spectrum disorders.

Study published: 2022-10-21

Intracranial EEG recordings improve seizure control in epilepsy patients

The study found that ECoG and SEEG provide different insights into brain connectivity, which can lead to improved surgical outcomes by better targeting the epileptogenic zone and potentially increasing rates of post-operative seizure freedom.

Study published: 2021-04-19

Anti-epileptic drugs pose pregnancy risks

The study emphasizes the importance of managing epilepsy in pregnancy, as poor seizure control can lead to maternal death. It highlights that lamotrigine may have a more favorable safety profile compared to valproic acid for pregnancy-related ADRs, suggesting that careful selection of AEDs can mitigate risks to both mother and child.

Study published: 2024-03-27