Journal Watch

Objective To provide updated evidence-based recommendations for migraine prevention using pharmacologic treatment with or without cognitive behavioral therapy in the pediatric population. Methods The authors systematically reviewed literature from January 2003 to August 2017 and developed practice recommendations using the American Academy of Neurology 2011 process, as amended. Results Fifteen Class I–III studies on migraine prevention in children and adolescents met inclusion criteria. There is insufficient evidence to determine if children and adolescents receiving divalproex, onabotulinumtoxinA, amitriptyline, nimodipine, or flunarizine are more or less likely than those receiving placebo to have a reduction in headache frequency. Children with migraine...

Abstract Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous Levetiracetam and Phenobarbitone in the treatment of neonatal seizures. Design: Open labelled, Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Participants: 100 neonates (0-28 days) with clinical seizures. Intervention: If seizures persisted even after correction of hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia, participants were randomized to receive either Levetiracetam (20 mg/kg) or Phenobarbitone (20 mg/kg) intravenously. The dose of same drug was repeated if seizures persisted (20 mg/kg of Levetiracetam or 10 mg/kg of Phenobarbitone) and changeover to other drug occurred if the seizures persisted even...

Background Phenytoin is the recommended second-line intravenous anticonvulsant for treatment of paediatric convulsive status epilepticus in the UK; however, some evidence suggests that levetiracetam could be an effective and safer alternative. This trial compared the efficacy and safety of phenytoin and levetiracetam for second-line management of paediatric convulsive status epilepticus.

Liberato and colleagues retrospectively analyzed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for brain lesion volume, Loes score, and growth over time in a cohort of boys biochemically or genetically diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy. Demographic data, genotype information, biochemical data, follow-up intervals, and brain lesion characteristics were recorded in all MRI scans. White matter changes were scored using the Loes MRI severity scoring system, and lesions were subdivided into 5 patterns based on primary anatomic distribution.

Modest improvements in IQ in children with epilepsy who underwent epilepsy surgery, a finding which was not seen in children with severe epilepsy who did not undergo surgery. 

Paolo Curatolo, David N Franz, John A Lawson, Zuhal Yapici, Hiroko Ikeda, Tilman Polster, Rima Nabbout, Petrus J de Vries, Dennis J Dlugos, Jenna Fan, Antonia Ridolfi, Diana Pelov, Maurizio Voi, Jacqueline A French https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(18)30099-3 Background Epilepsy occurs in 70–90% of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of adjunctive everolimus for treatment-refractory seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex in paediatric patients enrolled in the EXIST-3 trial, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 study. Methods This post-hoc analysis focused on paediatric patients...

BACKGROUND Cannabidiol has been used for treatment-resistant seizures in patients with severe early-onset epilepsy. We investigated the efficacy and safety of cannabidiol added to a regimen of conventional antiepileptic medication to treat drop seizures in patients with the Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, a severe developmental epileptic encephalopathy.