Abstracts

RATIONALE: Within the last decade, epidemiological studies have demonstrated an increased epilepsy prevalence in patients [gt]65 years of life. Elderly patients are difficult to treat, since they already undergo many therapies, what facilitates adverse effect and drug interaction occurrence. Thus, there is no consensus whether in this age group classic or rather new generation anti-epileptic drugs (AED[ssquote]s) should be used. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of 8 drugs employed in epilepsy treatment in the elderly.
METHODS: The study included 175 elderly patients (mean age, 72.2. years) with partial seizure epilepsy, who were treated with one of the following drugs: valproate (VPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT), oxcarbazepine (OCBZ), lamotrigine (LTG), gabapentin (GBP), tiagabine (TGB) and topiramate (TPM). The follow-up period was 24 months. The measure of treatment efficacy was the percentage of seizure-free patients at the termination of therapy, while the measure of safety [ndash] the percentage of exclusions due to unacceptable adverse effects.
RESULTS: The results are presented as the following percentage values: patients who have undergone the 24-month follow-up, seizure-free individuals and exclusions due to adverse effects.
VPAn=2871.475.017.9
CBZn=2466.768.7525.0
PHTn=2045.066.635.0
OCBZn=1888.975.05.6
LTGn=1855.670.027.7
GBPn=2090.066.65.0
TGBn=2688.569.67.7
TPMn=2147.670.042.9
CONCLUSIONS: AED[ssquote]s when employed in the elderly do not differ in their efficacy after a 24-month follow-up. GBP, OCBZ and TGB are best tolerated by this age group and they should be considered while treating elderly patients with numerous other medical problems.