1. [Scientific evidence on treatment and prognosis of childhood absence epilepsy].
- Author
-
Bloch J and Miranda MJ
- Subjects
- Anticonvulsants therapeutic use, Child, Cognition Disorders epidemiology, Comorbidity, Electroencephalography, Ethosuximide therapeutic use, Evidence-Based Medicine, Humans, Prognosis, Valproic Acid therapeutic use, Epilepsy, Absence diagnosis, Epilepsy, Absence drug therapy, Epilepsy, Absence epidemiology, Epilepsy, Absence physiopathology
- Abstract
Until now, ethosuximide (ESM), sodium valproate (VPA) and lamotrigine have been considered the drugs of choice in the management of childhood absence epilepsy, and there has been no high-validated evidence to distinguish their effects. New research shows, however, that while VPA and ESM are equally effective, ESM is the best tolerated of the two drugs, when considering cognitive adverse effects. This is of major importance, as cognitive comorbidities can be dire in childhood absence epilepsy, possibly affecting the psychosocial prognosis of the patients. More research is needed in this area.
- Published
- 2017