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Published on: May 16, 2019
[Peptidergic nootropic therapy in cerebral palsy associated with epilepsy]
A A Kholin1, N N Zavadenko2, E S Il Ina1
1Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics Department of Pediatric Faculty, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Russian Federation Ministry of Health; Department of Psychoneurology #2, Russian Children Clinical Hospital of the Russian Federation Ministry of Health.
Insights
Cortexin, a polypeptide nootropic, effectively reduced seizures and improved motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and epilepsy when used alongside antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). This adjunctive therapy demonstrated significant efficacy and safety in the studied pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) and epilepsy frequently co-occur in children, presenting complex management challenges.
- Effective therapeutic strategies are needed to address both neurological and epileptic manifestations in pediatric CP patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Cortexin as an adjunctive treatment for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and epilepsy.
- To determine the impact of Cortexin on seizure frequency and motor function in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 84 pediatric patients (aged 1-11 years) with CP and epilepsy.
- Patients received Cortexin (5-10 mg daily) in addition to their existing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
- Treatment involved intramuscular administration of Cortexin during hospitalization.
Main Results:
- Over half of the patients (54.7%) experienced positive outcomes, with 36.9% showing reduced seizures and improved motor function.
- 17.8% demonstrated improved motor function without significant seizure reduction, while 16.7% had reduced seizures but no significant motor improvement.
- Only 1.2% experienced seizure aggravation, a rate lower than typically observed with AEDs alone. 27.4% did not respond to therapy.
Conclusions:
- Cortexin is an effective and safe adjunctive therapy for managing children with CP and epilepsy.
- The medication shows promise in improving both motor deficits and seizure control in this population.
- Further research may explore optimal dosing and long-term effects of Cortexin in pediatric neurological disorders.
Aim:
To assess the efficacy and safety of сortexin in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy (CP) combined with epilepsy.
Material And Methods:
Eighty-four patients (55 boys and 29 girls), aged from 1 to 11 years, with CP combined with epilepsy received cortexin together with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Cortexin was administered in doses of 5-10 mg depending on the patient's age and body weight intramuscularly during hospitalization.
Results And Conclusion:
Cortexin as add-on to AEDs reduced for more than two times the number of seizures, along with improvement of motor function, in 31 (36.9%) patients. The improvement of motor function, but without a significant decrease in epileptic seizures, was achieved in 15 (17.8%) of the patients. Reduction of epileptic seizures frequency (>2 times), but without a significant effect on motor function, was observed in 14 cases (16.7%). Twenty-three patients (27.4%) did not respond the therapy. The aggravation of epileptic seizures during cortexin therapy was observed in only 1 girl with West syndrome (1.2%), and this was significantly lower than the probability of seizures aggravation on AED. Polypeptide nootropic medication cortexin demonstrated efficacy and safety as adjunctive therapy in children with CP combined with epilepsy.
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