Vigabatrin use in 72 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy

To determine the efficacy of a new anti-epileptic medication vigabatrin in adults and children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

An open, uncontrolled study in a tertiary referral clinic setting with vigabatrin used as add-on therapy.

All persons with intractable epilepsy, predominantly with complex partial seizures, with or without secondary generalization.

Outcome was assessed by the patient and physician in terms of reduction of seizure frequency and severity balanced against drug side effects.

Of 72 patients studied, seven are seizure-free and a total of 41/72 (57%) continue to take vigabatrin as they are deriving benefit therefrom. The results were most striking in patients with complex partial seizures with, or without, secondary generalization (65.6 and 60.9% ongoing treatment, respectively). Most of the 31 patients who ceased taking vigabatrin did so due to a lack of effect, but 9/31 did so because of adverse events: behavioural change, increased seizure frequency and oedema.

Vigabatrin has a definite role to play in the management of persons with intractable complex partial seizures where standard anti-epileptic therapy has failed to achieve control.