Authors :
Presenting Author: naruemol kitvorametha, MD – phramongkutklao hospital
Charcrin Nabangchang, M.D. – pediatrics – phramongkutklao hospital; Thitiwan Simasathien, M.D. – pediatrics – Bumrungrad international hospital; Piradee Suwanpakdee, M.D. – pediatrics – phramongkutklao hospital
Rationale:
More than one-third of epileptic patients have seizures refractory to anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Emerging studies indicate that probiotics can decrease seizure frequency and improve the quality of life in adults with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) but no data in children. To our knowledge, this is the first study of probiotics treatment in children with DRE to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of probiotics in patients between one and twenty years of age with DRE.Methods:
In this randomized-controlled study, patients between one and twenty years of age with DRE were randomized to receive ASMs plus probiotics (treatment group) and only ASMs (control group). Serum IL-6 was measured at baseline and after 120 days of treatment. The quality-of-life questionnaire and adverse events were evaluated.
Results:
Eighty-nine DRE patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age in treatment group and control group was 11.5 +4.7 and 11.3 +5.5, respectively. In generalized onset seizure type, the treatment group had >50% seizure reduction in 78.6% and was significant versus control group (p<0.05). The patients with structural brain lesions experienced >50% seizure reduction in 65% which was significant versus control group (p<0.05). No significant change in serum IL-6 levels between two groups. Two patients had diarrhea as adverse event and self-limited. The patient in treatment group reported significantly improved quality of life compared with the control group (p<0.05).