VIGABATRIN TREATMENT IN CHILDREN

Sixty-nine children, aged from 2 months to 16 years and suffering from different types of drug-resistant epileptic seizures, mostly complex partial and secondary generalised, were recruited in an open, uncontro lled, prospective study of treatment with vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl GABA ). Following a 3-month baseline observation period, the initial dose o f vigabatrin of 10 mg/kg per day was progressively increased up to a m aximum of 140 mg/kg per day, in addition to the conventional concomita nt therapy. Sixteen patients showed a greater-than-or-equal-to 50% red uction in seizure frequency compared with the baseline, with complete control of seizures in nine cases. In 14 other patients, no substantia l change in seizure frequency was observed, although an improvement in psychological performance after vigabatrin treatment warranted furthe r continuation of the drug. In 35 patients vigabatrin was discontinued because of lack of efficacy (22 cases) and/or increased seizure frequ ency (13 cases). The clinical and biological tolerance of vigabatrin w as remarkably good.