RUFINAMIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF LENNOX–GASTAUT SYNDROME: REVIEW OF FOREIGN LITERATURE

Abstract

Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathy characterized by frequent polymorphic seizures, including tonic, axial, obvious cognitive impairments, interictal EEG slow spike-wave discharges with fast activity at 10–20 Hz, which are frequently associated with tonic seizures and resistance to therapy. Treatment for LG presents great challenges due to the fact that its clinical picture is characterized by a concurrence of a few types of seizures and their resistance to drug therapy. In this connection, there are great expectations for the design of new antiepileptic drugs that have radically other mechanisms of action and must aim specially for the treatment of this severe form of epilepsy. The authors review the foreign literature on the use of the new in Russia antiepileptic drug rufinamide (Inovelon) registered just for the treatment of adult patients and in children who are at least 4 years old. Rufinamide (Inovelon) was registered in Russia in January 2015 as adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS in patients from 4 years of age. The paper describes the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability of rufinamide in LGS. Numerous trials have demonstrated the efficacy and good tolerability of rufinamide in the treatment of LGS.