Vigabatrin use in 72 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of a new anti-epileptic medication vigabatrin in adults and children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

An open, uncontrolled study in a tertiary referral clinic setting with vigabatrin used as add-on therapy.

SUBJECTS: All persons with intractable epilepsy, predominantly with complex partial seizures, with or without secondary generalization.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome was assessed by the patient and physician in terms of reduction of seizure frequency and severity balanced against drug side effects.

RESULTS

Of 72 patients studied, seven are seizure-free and a total of 41/72 (57%) continue to take vigabatrin as they are deriving benefit therefrom. The results were most striking in patients with complex partial seizures with, or without, secondary generalization (65.6 and 60.9% ongoing treatment, respectively). Most of the 31 patients who ceased taking vigabatrin did so due to a lack of effect, but 9/31 did so because of adverse events: behavioural change, increased seizure frequency and oedema.

CONCLUSIONS

Vigabatrin has a definite role to play in the management of persons with intractable complex partial seizures where standard anti-epileptic therapy has failed to achieve control.