This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Khan, R. B. Articles by Thompson, S. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Khan, R. B. Articles by Thompson, S. J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Gabapentin to Control Seizures in Children Undergoing Cancer Treatment

Division of Neuro-Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, raja.khan{at}stjude.org.

Daniel L. Hunt, PhD

Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

Stephen J. Thompson, MD

Department of Pediatrics, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ

Hepatic clearance of chemotherapy drugs is increased by many antiepilepsy drugs. At our institution, new-onset seizures in children on chemotherapy are treated with gabapentin, a nonhepatic enzyme inducer. The charts of all children given gabapentin for seizures were reviewed. At a median follow-up of 34 months, seizures were controlled in 74% of 50 children given gabapentin monotherapy as initial treatment: 91% of the leukemia group, 57% of the brain tumor group, and 75% of the other tumor group. Seizures were controlled in 49% of 59 children in whom gabapentin was added to other antiepilepsy drugs: 43% of the leukemia group, 53% of the brain tumor group, and 50% of the other tumor group. More than one seizure at presentation, focal neurologic deficits, high-dose methotrexate, brain irradiation, and T₂-weighted signal abnormality around the brain tumor cavity predicted uncontrolled seizures. Only 8 children (7%) reported adverse effects, and the drug was discontinued in two. Gabapentin effectively controls seizures in children receiving chemotherapy and is well tolerated. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:97—101).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 19, No. 2, 97-101 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/08830738040190020301


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Michelucci Optimizing therapy of seizures in neurosurgery Neurology, December 26, 2006; 67(12_suppl_4): S14 - S18. [Abstract] [Full Text]