Treating Lennox–Gastaut syndrome in epileptic pediatric patients with third-generation rufinamide

Jessica Gresham¹, Lea S Eiland^2,3, Allison M Chung^2,4
1Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy (AUHSOP), ²Department of Pharmacy Practice, AUHSOP, ³University of Alabama, School of Medicine, Huntsville Regional Medical Campus, ⁴University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Mobile, Alabama, USA

Abstract: Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare but debilitating pediatric epileptic encephalopathy characterized by multiple intractable seizure types. Treatment of LGS is challenging because of the small number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) which are effective for this syndrome, as well as the need for polytherapy in the majority of patients. This review focuses on the treatment of LGS with rufinamide, a recently approved third-generation AED with reported efficacy as adjunctive therapy for LGS. All relevant papers identified through a PubMed search on the treatment of LGS with rufinamide were reviewed. To date, the literature suggests improvements in seizure frequency for pediatric patients with LGS on rufinamide. Rufinamide appears to be especially effective for atonic or drop attack seizures. Rufinamide also displays a favorable adverse event profile compared with the older anticonvulsants, as well as a minimal number of drug interactions, making it a promising option for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS.

Keywords: epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, pediatrics, seizure, rufinamide