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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
Topiramate loading for refractory status epilepticus in children
M Scott Perry1, Philip J Holt, John T Sladky
1Emory University Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. scott_perry@oz.ped.emory.edu
Purpose:
To describe three cases of refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in children responsive to topiramate (TPM).
Methods:
Patients with SE refractory to therapeutic doses of at least two antiepileptic medications were given TPM, 10 mg/kg/d, for 2 consecutive days, followed by maintenance doses of 5 mg/kg/d.
Results:
This protocol has been used in three cases of RSE at our institution. In each case, SE was aborted within 21 h of the initial dose of TPM. Two patients avoided pharmacologic coma, and one was rapidly weaned from continuous benzodiazepine infusion.
Conclusions:
Our experience indicates that TPM loading can be effective in the treatment of RSE in children.
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