[Neurophysiological and therapeutic evaluation of stiripentol in epilepsy. Preliminary results]

The main objective of this study was to determine whether stripentol (STP) alleviates side-effects commonly observed in treated epileptic patients, since preliminary data suggested a positive psychotropic effect. A secondary objective was an evaluation of drug efficacy. Eleven patients with either a drug-resistant epilepsy or toxic effects of AEDs completed the study. Ten had symptomatic partial epilepsies and one an idiopathic generalized epilepsy. STP was added to the baseline therapy (1 or 2 AEDs) and the dose of the baseline AEDs was reduced to maintain plasma levels unchanged (mean reduction: PB 26%, PHT: 49%, CBZ: 38%). Several motor, perceptual and attention tasks and the Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory were performed before and after STP administration. Seizure frequency and clinical side-effects were evaluated during a baseline period and after two months of constant therapy. Effects of repeated administration of the neuropsychological battery were assessed by administration of the battery on two occasions at 12-week interval to a randomized subgroup of patients. No practice effect was observed. A trend of improvement (p less than 0.05) in the performance of two tasks requiring sustained attention was noted. Previous side-effects (mainly drowsiness) decreased or disappeared in 7 of 9 patients who became more alert. Six of the nine uncontrolled patients experienced a decrease in seizure frequency equal to or larger than 50 per cent.