Efficacy and tolerability of perampanel as add-on therapy in Dravet syndrome: A prospective real-world study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of perampanel (PER) on Dravet syndrome in China by a prospective real-world study.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled children with Dravet syndrome from the neurology clinic of Shenzhen Children's Hospital from September 2020 to October 2021. The average monthly seizure frequency within 2 months before enrollment was recorded as the baseline. PER was administered after enrollment. The response rate (the rate of seizure reduction ≥50% compared to the baseline) was regarded as the major index. The adverse events and retention rates were regarded as the minor index. All indexes were calculated after 3 and 6 months' follow-up, respectively. The outcome-predictive value of various clinical factors was analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 21 children were enrolled, including 15 boys and 6 girls, with a median age of 4 years and 8 months (1 year and 3 months to 15 years and 6 months). Averagely, 2.57 ASMs had been administrated and failed to control seizures before enrollment. The response rates were 52.4% (11/21) and 47.6% (10/21) after 3 and 6 months of PER administration, respectively. Adverse events were observed in 8 patients (38.1%), including irritability (3/8, 37.5%), fatigue (3/8, 37.5%), unstable walking (2/8, 25%), somnolence (2/8, 25%), and sluggish response (2/8, 25%); most of them were mild and temporary. The retention rate was 90.5% (19/21) at 6 months' follow-up. Two patients discontinued PER due to failure of seizure control, and no patients discontinued due to adverse events.

SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of PER's effectiveness and tolerability in treating DS, highlighting its importance as an additional treatment option. It broadens the range of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) that may be effective for patients with DS.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: In the neurology clinic of Shenzhen Children's Hospital, 21 children with Dravet syndrome were administered perampanel. Perampanel, as a novel anti-seizure medication approved for focal and generalized epilepsies as add-on therapy, showed sufficient efficacy and a satisfactory safety and tolerability profile in this study.