Abstracts

Rationale: The efficacy of Eslicarbazepine (ESL) as adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures has been demonstrated in several double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and open-label extension trials. In pivotal trials, adjunctive therapy with ESL, 800 and 1,200 mg once daily, significantly reduced seizure frequency versus placebo in patients with partial-onset seizures treated with one to three two concomitant AEDs. So, ESL has been widely used in Europe since 2011, and more recently in other countries, like USA. But there is much less information regarding issues related to Quality of Life. Our purpose is to assess, in conditions of clinical practice, with parameters related to quality of life, evolution of patients after starting treatment with Eslicarbazepine (ESL).Methods: Prospective observational study, of patients considered ""suitable"" for use in ESL (due to their clinical situation, frequency or intensity of seizures, or adverse effects produced by the previously used Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)). Treatment with ESL at doses of 800 to 1600 mg, based on response and tolerability. Minimum treatment time: 12 months (at stable dose). Those patients with less than one year follow-up at stable dose of ESL therapy were excludedResults: 40 patients completed the study. Assessment of quality of life before treatment and after at least 6 months of stable dosing; and again after 1 year of stable dose. The quality of life, as measured by the scale SF-36, Quality of Life In Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31), the global scale FEGEA (""Ficha Evolutiva Global de Epilepsia en Adultos"") (global evolutive file for epilepsy in adults), significantly improved compared with baseline value. 35 % Of the patients experienced side effects, especially dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, diplopia, abnormal coordination, vomiting, blurred vision, and fatigue. Most adverse events were of mild or moderate severity and/or transitory. Most of the adverse effects were experienced in first months of treatmentConclusions: Treatment with eslicarbazepine acetate (800 mg to 1600 mg per day) achieves, in conditions of clinical practice, a significant improvement not only in seizure management of patients with incomplete response/suboptimal, but also a better quality of life both in these patients and in those with problems of adaptation / tolerability to other AEDs. Most adverse effects are suffered in the first months of therapy.