Purpose of reviewA concise review of recent findings in brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE), with focus on the effect of antitumor treatment on seizure control and the management of antiepileptic... Show morePurpose of reviewA concise review of recent findings in brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE), with focus on the effect of antitumor treatment on seizure control and the management of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).Recent findingsIsocitrate dehydrogenase mutation and its active metabolite d-2-hydroxyglutarate seem important contributing factors to epileptogenesis in BTRE. A beneficial effect of antitumor treatment (i.e. surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) on seizure control has mainly been demonstrated in low-grade glioma. AED prophylaxis in seizure-naive BTRE patients is not recommended, but AED treatment should be initiated after a first seizure has occurred. Comparative efficacy randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are currently lacking, but second-generation AED levetiracetam seems the preferred choice in BTRE. Levetiracetam lacks significant drug-drug interactions, has shown favorable efficacy compared to valproic acid in BTRE, generally causes no hematological or neurocognitive functioning adverse effects, but caution should be exercised with regard to psychiatric adverse effects. Potential add-on AEDs in case of uncontrolled seizures include lacosamide, perampanel, and valproic acid. Ultimately, in the end-of-life phase when oral intake of medication is hampered, benzodiazepines via nonoral administration routes are potential alternatives.SummaryManagement of seizures in BTRE is complex and with currently available evidence levetiracetam seems the preferred choice. Comparative efficacy RCTs in BTRE are warranted. Show less
Aims The purpose of this study was to investigate pharmacodynamic effects of drugs targeting cortical excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) combined with electromyography (EMG)... Show moreAims The purpose of this study was to investigate pharmacodynamic effects of drugs targeting cortical excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) combined with electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) in healthy subjects, to further develop TMS outcomes as biomarkers for proof-of-mechanism in early-phase clinical drug development. Antiepileptic drugs presumably modulate cortical excitability. Therefore, we studied effects of levetiracetam, valproic acid and lorazepam on cortical excitability in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-way cross-over study. Methods In 16 healthy male subjects, single- and paired-pulse TMS-EMG-EEG measurements were performed predose and 1.5, 7 and 24 hours postdose. Treatment effects on motor-evoked potential, short and long intracortical inhibition and TMS-evoked potential amplitudes, were analysed using a mixed model ANCOVA and cluster-based permutation analysis. Results We show that motor-evoked potential amplitudes decreased after administration of levetiracetam (estimated difference [ED] -378.4 mu V; 95%CI: -644.3, -112.5 mu V; P < .01), valproic acid (ED -268.8 mu V; 95%CI: -532.9, -4.6 mu V; P = .047) and lorazepam (ED -330.7 mu V; 95%CI: -595.6, -65.8 mu V; P = .02) when compared with placebo. Long intracortical inhibition was enhanced by levetiracetam (ED -60.3%; 95%CI: -87.1%, -33.5%; P < .001) and lorazepam (ED -68.2%; 95%CI: -94.7%, -41.7%; P < .001) at a 50-ms interstimulus interval. Levetiracetam increased TMS-evoked potential component N45 (P = .004) in a central cluster and decreased N100 (P < .001) in a contralateral cluster. Conclusion This study shows that levetiracetam, valproic acid and lorazepam decrease cortical excitability, which can be detected using TMS-EMG-EEG in healthy subjects. These findings provide support for the use of TMS excitability measures as biomarkers to demonstrate pharmacodynamic effects of drugs that influence cortical excitability. Show less
Meer, P.B. van der; Dirven, L.; Bent, M.J. van den; Preusser, M.; Taphoorn, M.J.B.; Ruda, R.; Koekkoek, J.A.F. 2021
Background This study aimed at investigating antiepileptic drug (AED) prescription preferences in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE) among the European neuro-oncology community, the... Show moreBackground This study aimed at investigating antiepileptic drug (AED) prescription preferences in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE) among the European neuro-oncology community, the considerations that play a role when initiating AED treatment, the organization of care, and practices with regard to AED withdrawal. Methods A digital survey containing 31 questions about prescription preferences of AEDs was set out among members of the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO). Results A total of 198 respondents treating patients with BTRE participated of whom 179 completed the entire survey. Levetiracetam was the first choice in patients with BTRE for almost all respondents (90% [162/181]). Levetiracetam was considered the most effective AED in reducing seizure frequency (72% [131/181]) and having the least adverse effects (48% [87/181]). Common alternatives for levetiracetam as equivalent first choice included lacosamide (33% [59/181]), lamotrigine (22% [40/181]), and valproic acid (21% [38/181]). Most crucial factors to choose a specific AED were potential adverse effects (82% [148/181]) and interactions with antitumor treatments (76% [137/181]). In the majority of patients, neuro-oncologists were involved in the treatment of seizures (73% [132/181])). Other relevant findings were that a minority of respondents ever prescribe AEDs in brain tumor patients without epilepsy solely as prophylaxis (29% [53/181]), but a majority routinely considers complete AED withdrawal in BTRE patients who are seizure-free after antitumor treatment (79% [141/179]). Conclusions Our results show that among European professionals treating patients with BTRE levetiracetam is considered the first choice AED, with the presumed highest efficacy and least adverse effects. Show less
Meer, P.B. van der; Dirven, L.; Fiocco, M.; Vos, M.J.; Kouwenhoven, M.C.M.; Bent, M.J. van den; ... ; Koekkoek, J.A.F. 2021
Objective This study aimed at estimating the cumulative incidence of antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment failure of first-line monotherapy levetiracetam vs valproic acid in glioma patients with... Show moreObjective This study aimed at estimating the cumulative incidence of antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment failure of first-line monotherapy levetiracetam vs valproic acid in glioma patients with epilepsy.Methods In this retrospective observational study, a competing risks model was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of treatment failure, from AED treatment initiation, for the two AEDs with death as a competing event. Patients were matched on baseline covariates potentially related to treatment assignment and outcomes of interest according to the nearest neighbor propensity score matching technique. Maximum duration of follow-up was 36 months.Results In total, 776 patients using levetiracetam and 659 using valproic acid were identified. Matching resulted in two equal groups of 429 patients, with similar covariate distribution. The cumulative incidence of treatment failure for any reason was significantly lower for levetiracetam compared to valproic acid (12 months: 33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 29%-38%] vs 50% [95% CI 45%-55%]; P < .001). When looking at specific reasons of treatment failure, treatment failure due to uncontrolled seizures was significantly lower for levetiracetam compared to valproic acid (12 months: 16% [95% CI 12%-19%] vs 28% [95% CI 23%-32%]; P < 0.001), but no differences were found for treatment failure due to adverse effects (12 months: 14% [95% CI 11%-18%] vs 15% [95% CI 11%-18%]; P = .636).Significance Our results suggest that levetiracetam may have favorable efficacy compared to valproic acid, whereas level of toxicity seems similar. Therefore, levetiracetam seems to be the preferred choice for first-line AED treatment in patients with glioma. Show less
Hamming, A.M.; Toorn, A. van der; Rudrapatna, U.S.; Ma, L.; Os, H.J.A. van; Ferrari, M.D.; ... ; Wermer, M.J.H. 2017
