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Perampanel tolerability in children and adolescents with focal epilepsy: Effects on behavior and executive functions

Francesca Felicia Operto1, Grazia Maria Giovanna Pastorino2, Roberta Mazza3

  • 1Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Italy.

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|January 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Perampanel (PER) add-on therapy for pediatric epilepsy showed no negative impact on executive functions and was well-tolerated. Some patients even experienced improvements in cognitive abilities during the 12-month study.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Perampanel (PER) is a noncompetitive AMPA glutamate receptor antagonist used as add-on therapy for focal and generalized epilepsies.
  • While generally well-tolerated in pediatric epilepsy syndromes, its specific impact on executive functions requires further assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of perampanel (PER) on executive functions in children and adolescents with pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
  • To assess the emotional and behavioral tolerability of PER in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • 37 children (12-18 years) with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy received PER as add-on therapy (2-4 mg/day).
  • Executive functions were assessed using the EpiTrack Junior test.
  • Emotional and behavioral aspects were evaluated via parent interviews using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

Main Results:

  • After 12 months, the global score on the EpiTrack Junior test remained largely unchanged in most patients (22/30), with improvement noted in some (7/30).
  • The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) revealed no significant changes in emotional or behavioral problems.

Conclusions:

  • Adjunctive perampanel (PER) treatment did not negatively impact executive functions in pediatric epilepsy patients and may offer improvements.
  • PER demonstrated good middle- to long-term tolerability, with no reported emotional or behavioral adverse effects.
Abstract

Keywords:
Adverse effectsBehaviorChildrenExecutive functionsPerampanel

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