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. 2022 May;63(5):e42-e50.
doi: 10.1111/epi.17223. Epub 2022 Mar 26.

Sustained seizure freedom with adjunctive brivaracetam in patients with focal onset seizures

Simona Lattanzi  1 , Michele Ascoli  2 , Laura Canafoglia  3 , Maria Paola Canevini  4   5 , Sara Casciato  6 , Emanuele Cerulli Irelli  7 , Valentina Chiesa  4 , Filippo Dainese  8 , Giovanni De Maria  9 , Giuseppe Didato  10 , Giancarlo Di Gennaro  6 , Giovanni Falcicchio  11 , Martina Fanella  7 , Massimo Gangitano  12 , Angela La Neve  11 , Oriano Mecarelli  7 , Elisa Montalenti  13 , Alessandra Morano  7 , Federico Piazza  14 , Chiara Pizzanelli  15 , Patrizia Pulitano  7 , Federica Ranzato  16 , Eleonora Rosati  17 , Laura Tassi  18 , Carlo Di Bonaventura  7 ; BRIVAFIRST Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Sustained seizure freedom with adjunctive brivaracetam in patients with focal onset seizures

Simona Lattanzi et al. Epilepsia. 2022 May.

Abstract

The maintenance of seizure control over time is a clinical priority in patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to assess the sustained seizure frequency reduction with adjunctive brivaracetam (BRV) in real-world practice. Patients with focal epilepsy prescribed add-on BRV were identified. Study outcomes included sustained seizure freedom and sustained seizure response, defined as a 100% and a ≥50% reduction in baseline seizure frequency that continued without interruption and without BRV withdrawal through the 12-month follow-up. Nine hundred ninety-four patients with a median age of 45 (interquartile range = 32-56) years were included. During the 1-year study period, sustained seizure freedom was achieved by 142 (14.3%) patients, of whom 72 (50.7%) were seizure-free from Day 1 of BRV treatment. Sustained seizure freedom was maintained for ≥6, ≥9, and 12 months by 14.3%, 11.9%, and 7.2% of patients from the study cohort. Sustained seizure response was reached by 383 (38.5%) patients; 236 of 383 (61.6%) achieved sustained ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency by Day 1, 94 of 383 (24.5%) by Month 4, and 53 of 383 (13.8%) by Month 7 up to Month 12. Adjunctive BRV was associated with sustained seizure frequency reduction from the first day of treatment in a subset of patients with uncontrolled focal epilepsy.

Keywords: antiseizure medication; brivaracetam; focal seizures; seizure freedom; sodium channel blockers.

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Conflict of interest statement

S.L. has received speaker's or consultancy fees from Angelini, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, and UCB Pharma and has served on advisory boards for Angelini, Arvelle Therapeutics, Bial, and GW Pharmaceuticals. L.C. has received a consultancy fee from Eisai. M.P.C. has received speaker's or consultancy fees from Bial, Eisai, Italfarmaco, Sanofi, and UCB Pharma. S.C. has participated in pharmaceutical industry‐sponsored symposia for Eisai, UCB Pharma, and Lusofarmaco. V.C. has received speaker's or consultancy fees from Eisai and UCB Pharma. G.D.G. has participated in advisory boards and pharmaceutical industry‐sponsored symposia for Eisai, UCB Pharma, Bial, Lusofarmaco, LivaNova, and Arvelle Therapeutics. A.L.N. has received speaker's or consultancy fees from Eisai, Mylan, Bial, Sanofi, and UCB Pharma. P.P. has received consulting fees or speaker honoraria from UCB Pharma and Eisai. F.R. has received speaker's fees from Eisai, UCB, and LivaNova. E.R. has received fees for participation on advisory boards or scientific consultation from Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, Bial, and UCB Pharma. L.T. has received speaker's or consultancy fees from Arvelle Therapeutics, Eisai, and UCB Pharma. C.D.B. has received consulting fees or speaker honoraria by UCB Pharma, Eisai, GW Pharmaceuticals, Bial, and Lusopharma. None of the other authors has any conflict of interest to disclose. We confirm that we have read the Journal's position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Sustained seizure freedom (SSF) and sustained seizure response (SSR) outcomes. (A) Proportions of patients from the study cohort who were seizure‐free and seizure responders from Day 1, Month 4, and Month 7 to Month 12. (B) Proportions of patients reaching SSF and SSR who were seizure‐free and seizure responders from Day 1, Month 4, and Month 7 to Month 12. (C) Proportions of patients from the study cohort who maintained SSF and SSR for ≥6, ≥9, and 12 months
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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