Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
-
Members of the British Paediatric Neurology Association were invited to participate in a national audit of children presenting with a possible diagnosis of epilepsy. The audit was based on a 'standard' or set of pre-determined questions drawn up by an advisory audit group. The audit form comprised a total of 30 questions divided into four sections addressing history, examination, investigation, treatment and communication. ⋯ Within the history section, only 32 of the 50 (64%) case notes had recorded whether or not there was 'any obvious provoking factor or circumstance to the episodes'. Communication was the least satisfactorily completed section with between none and 48% of the case notes documenting that the child's family had been informed of the existence of a voluntary epilepsy organization. Despite the simplicity of the audit form, the response for this national audit was considerably lower than anticipated.
-
Multicenter Study
Long-term safety and efficacy of lamotrigine (Lamictal) in paediatric patients with epilepsy.
This study was initiated to evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability and effect on seizure control of lamotrigine (Lamictal) in paediatric patients with epilepsy. A total of 155 children (aged 2-19 years) with treatment-resistant epilepsy received add-on therapy or monotherapy lamotrigine for up to four years. Patients had already experienced benefit from lamotrigine treatment in an open one-year study before entering this open continuation study of up to three additional years of treatment. ⋯ In total, 34 patients received lamotrigine monotherapy; 22 of these were maintained on lamotrigine monotherapy for at least one year. Lamotrigine was well tolerated. The majority of adverse experiences were classified by the physician as being mild in intensity and only six patients (4%) withdrew from the study due to adverse experiences.