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Clinical experience with open-label topiramate use in infants younger than 2 years of age

Nathan Watemberg1, Hadassah Goldberg-Stern, Bruria Ben-Zeev

  • 1Pediatric Neurology Unit, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel. nwatemberg@pol.net

Journal of Child Neurology
|May 23, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Topiramate is effective and well-tolerated for treating refractory epilepsy in infants under 24 months. This study found positive outcomes in infantile spasms and other seizure types, with minimal adverse effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Infantile epilepsy requires effective and safe treatment options.
  • Topiramate is an established antiepileptic drug, but its use in infants is less studied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of topiramate in infants under 24 months with refractory epilepsy.
  • To identify common epilepsy syndromes and seizure types treated with topiramate in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • An open-label, multicenter chart review of 28 infants younger than 24 months receiving topiramate for refractory epilepsy.
  • Data collected on epilepsy syndrome, seizure type, treatment regimen, response, duration, and adverse effects.

Main Results:

  • Seven of eight infants with infantile spasms improved with topiramate.
  • Half of infants with other seizure types responded to topiramate.
  • Adverse effects were infrequent, with only two discontinuations.

Conclusions:

  • Topiramate demonstrates efficacy and good tolerability in infants with refractory epilepsy.
  • Further prospective studies are recommended to confirm these findings.

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