1. Intravenous lacosamide as treatment option in post-stroke non convulsive status epilepticus in the elderly: a proof-of-concept, observational study.
- Author
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Belcastro V, Vidale S, Pierguidi L, Sironi L, Tancredi L, Striano P, Taborelli A, and Arnaboldi M
- Subjects
- Acetamides administration & dosage, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anticonvulsants administration & dosage, Female, Humans, Lacosamide, Male, Status Epilepticus etiology, Treatment Outcome, Acetamides therapeutic use, Anticonvulsants therapeutic use, Status Epilepticus drug therapy, Stroke complications
- Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenously administered lacosamide (iv LCM) in post-stroke non convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in elderly patients., Methods: We enrolled 16 patients (7 M/9 F; 77 ± 7 years of age) with NCSE. iv LCM was used in all the patients as initial treatment (i.e. patients were directly started on LCM) at a loading dose of 400 mg over 30 min, followed by a mean maintenance dose of 400 mg per day. iv LCM was considered as effective in patients who experience no NCSE for 24 h following treatment, as evaluated by EEG recording and clinical observation., Results: LCM was effective in treating NCSE in eight of the sixteen patients in whom epileptic activity disappeared (7/8) or was significantly reduced (1/8) within 45-60 min after administration. None of these patients relapsed in the following 24 h. No adverse events were observed. A partial anterior circulation syndrome (PACS) was present in 10 patients while a total anterior circulation syndrome (TACS) in six., Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that LCM exhibits safety and efficacy profiles which make it an optimal candidate as a first-choice drug against post-stroke NCSE in elderly patients. A prospective comparative trial is needed to confirm these preliminary data., (Copyright © 2013 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2013
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