Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Epileptic seizures are common in oncologic patients. Seizures could be the initial symptom of a brain tumor in 20-40% of the cases and 40% of the patients with brain tumors will have a seizure throught the diseqse. Management of these complications is crucial in the treatment of brain tumors. The ideal antiepileptic drug (AED) would be that one which could ensure a high and proved efficacy, wide security, low interactions, easy and quick to titrate and available in i.v. formulation. Until today there is a scarce number of publications on the use of lacosamide (LCM) in patients with btain tumors, although there is some experience in routine clinical practice that has previously shown a very promising profile of efficacy and safety. This study tries to compile some of these experiences in Spain. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of LCM in the management of seizures in patients with brain tumors. Secondary objectives were the evaluation of safety and tolerability of LCM . DESIGN: Multicentric, observational, non-interventional retrospective study. Patients who suffered at least 1 convulsive episode and at least treated with 1 dose of LCM were recruited. RESULTS: 37 patients with brain tumor suffering seizures were recruited in 6 centers all over the country, and 24 of them (64.9%) could be followed-up until the end of the study (after 6 months). Of these 37 patients, 26 (70%) were male, the age was 54.14 ± 14 years. 28 patients had one lesion and 9 had several lesions, 7 of them were metastatic. The average of total number of seizures from the onset of LCM treatment to the last visit performed shows a statistically significant change from the initiation of LCM treatment, showing a reduction of -16.8 ± 41'7 seizures. (p <000.1) The reason for withdrawing from the study was death by cancer in 7 of all the 37 initially included (53.85%), being a lack of LCM efficacy in 2 patients. A total of 12 more patients needed a LCM modification of treatment, 9 due to lack of efficacy, 3 due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In a retrospective, non-interventional study with brain tumor patients, LCM has shown to be effective and safe in the management of seizures in neurooncological patients.

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