0000000000660325
AUTHOR
Eugen Trinka
Cognitive-behavioral screening in elderly patients with new-onset epilepsy before treatment
Objectives Cognitive comorbidity at epilepsy onset reflects disease severity and provides a baseline estimate of reserve capacities with regard to the effects of epilepsy and its treatment. Given the high incidence of epilepsy at an older age, this study analyzed objective and subjective cognition as well as quality of life in elderly patients with new-onset focal epilepsy before initiation of anti-epileptic treatment. Materials and methods A total of 257 untreated patients (60–95 years of age) with new-onset epilepsy underwent objective assessment of executive function (EpiTrack) and performed subjective ratings of cognition (Portland Neurotoxicity Scale) and quality of life (QoL; QOLIE-31…
A randomized, double-blind comparison of antiepileptic drug treatment in the elderly with new-onset focal epilepsy.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of controlled-released carbamazepine (CR-CBZ) to levetiracetam (LEV) and to lamotrigine (LTG) in elderly patients with newlydiagnosedfocalepilepsy.Methods: Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial conducted between January2007andAugust2011,in47ambulatoryorhospitalsitesinGermany,Austria,orSwit-zerland. Eligible participants were aged ≥60, had new-onset epilepsy, had no acute ill-nessasthecauseoftheirseizures,andhadnocontraindicationtothedrugsinthetrial.Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to CR-CBZ, LTG, or LEV. Doses were up-titrated for6 weeks and could be maintained or adjusted depending on seizure relapse or tolera-bility over an additional period …
The safety and efficacy of add-on levetiracetam in elderly patients with focal epilepsy: A one-year observational study
Abstract Purpose The long-term safety and efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) was evaluated as add-on therapy in focal epilepsy patients ( n =491) aged at least 65 years who failed at least one monotherapy. Methods Patients ( n =491) with focal epilepsy treated with at least one antiepileptic drug in monotherapy with insufficient seizure control were included in this prospective open-label study. The recommended LEV dose range was 1000–3000mgperday. Follow-up visits were done approximately after 3, 6 and 12 months. Safety and efficacy was analysed based on all patients who received LEV (safety population, n =491) and all patients who were seen at all visits and completed the trial (per protocol…