The use of antiepileptic drugs in pediatric brain tumor patients.

Full Abstract

Antiepileptic drugs are frequently used in children with brain tumors. This retrospective study reviewed chronic use of antiepileptic drugs in children with brain tumors at two children's hospitals between 2000 and 2007. Antiepileptic drugs were used in 32/334 pediatric brain tumor patients (10%). Almost all (94%) had supratentorial tumors, of which 78% were glial tumors. The most common localization was temporal (70%). The most frequently used initial antiepileptic drugs were phenytoin (n = 14) and oxcarbazepine (n = 7). Initial antiepileptic drugs were frequently changed, because of lack of efficacy and adverse effects, as well as concerns about possible drug interactions. At last follow-up, the most common antiepileptic drugs were oxcarbazepine (n = 11) and levetiracetam (n = 10). Levetiracetam was more likely to be used in children who received chemotherapy or radiation therapy (8/14, or 57%) than in those who did not receive adjuvant therapies (3/18, or 17%) (P = 0.03). The patients started on newer-generation antiepileptic drugs (levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine) tended to remain on the same antiepileptic drugs more than did patients on older-generation antiepileptic drugs (valproic acid, phenytoin, phenobarbital) (73% vs 28%) (P = 0.04). Newer antiepileptic drugs, especially those without significant drug-drug interactions, may be a more appropriate first choice in children with brain tumors and seizures.

Author information

Author/s: Sogawa, Yoshimi (Y); Kan, Li (L); Levy, Adam S (AS); Maytal, Joseph (J); Shinnar, Shlomo (S);

Affiliation: Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210th Street; Bronx, NY 10467, USA. Ysogawa(-atsign-)montefiore.org

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Pediatric neurology (Pediatr Neurol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 41 (issue 3) : pp 192-4

Dates: Created 2009/08/11; Completed 2009/10/26;

PMID: 19664535, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/26/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Brain Neoplasms - drug therapy; radiotherapy; surgery
Carbamazepine - adverse effects; analogs & derivatives; therapeutic use
Child
Drug Interactions
Follow-Up Studies
Glioma - drug therapy

Glioma - drug therapy
Humans
Phenytoin - adverse effects; therapeutic use
Piracetam - adverse effects; analogs & derivatives; therapeutic use
Retrospective Studies
Seizures - drug therapy; etiology
Supratentorial Neoplasms - drug therapy
Treatment Outcome

Associated Chemicals: Anticonvulsants (0) ; Antineoplastic Agents (0) ; oxcarbazepine (28721-07-5) ; Carbamazepine (298-46-4) ; etiracetam (33996-58-6) ; Phenytoin (57-41-0) ; Piracetam (7491-74-9)

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