To the Editor: More than 25% children with seizures have refractory epilepsy [1]. Brivaracetam is a United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved antiepileptic drug (AED) indicated in patients older than 4 y [2]. In this retrospective study, we assessed the effectiveness and safety of Brivaracetam in children with refractory epilepsy below 18 y of age, between September 2018 and August 2019. Out of total 38 patients, 25 were males. Mean age was 5.9 y. Various epilepsy syndromes were West syndrome (6); Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) (8); Dravet syndrome (2); and tuberous sclerosis (TS) (3). The average dose of Brivaracetam used was 2 mg/kg/body weight.
Decrease in seizure frequency was more than 50% in 14/38 (36%) with 4 (10%) of them seizure-free, no change in 18 (47%), less than 50% in 1, and 2 (5.2%) showed worsening of seizures. More than 50% reduction noted in West syndrome (3), LGS (5), TS (2). Seizure-free in 3 cases of unknown etiology and 1 case of West syndrome. Eleven (55%) of them had more than 50% seizure reduction in Levetiracetam (LEV) switch cases. The adverse effects were drowsiness and mood swings in 1 child each. Two out of the 4 patients reported improvement in behavior in LEV switch cases. The duration of follow-up was 12 mo, and during this period, no change in effectiveness was noted in those who responded.
Brivaracetam has 15- to 30-fold high affinity for synaptic vesicle 2A than LEV. It has high lipid solubility, rapid brain penetration, and broad-spectrum antiepileptic activity [2]. The safety and tolerability profile in children are similar to adults [2, 3]. We noted greater than 50% seizure reduction in 36%, seizure-free in 10%, unchanged seizure frequency in 47%, increased seizure frequency in 5.2% compared to 44%, 17%, 38%, and 18%, respectively reported in adults [4]. To conclude, Brivaracetam adjunctive treatment is well tolerated, safe, and effective in children.
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Gowda, V.K., Nagarajan, B., Shivappa, S.K. et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Brivaracetam in Children. Indian J Pediatr 88, 506 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-021-03697-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-021-03697-6