THE USE OF TOPIRAMATE FOR EPILEPSY TREATMENT IN CHILDREN

Abstract: this article contains information about the principles of treatment different forms of epilepsy and a more detailed information about antiepileptic drug - topiramate. Based on the own research the authors evaluate the efficacy and safety of topiramate in children with different forms of epilepsy. The studied group consisted of 80 children - 36 boys and 44 girls (45% and 55% respectively) middle-aged 9,2±5 years. Generalized forms of epilepsy were diagnosed in 14 patients (18%), focal forms - in 66 patients (82%). Idiopathic forms of focal epilepsies in 19 patients (24%), cryptogenic forms – 21 patients (26%), symptomatic forms in 26 patients (32%). All patients have taken topiramate in meddle dose 5 mg/kg/day. As a monotherapy it was used in 43 patients (54%), in combination with one antiepileptic drug in 30 patients (38%), in combination with the other two drugs in 7 children (8%). The results of the study demonstrated the effectiveness of topiramate and safety in treatment of all forms of epilepsy in pediatric patients. The use of topiramate in children with idiopathic generalized and idiopathic focal forms and cryptogenic focal form of epilepsy was high effective. The authors conclude that increasing the effectiveness of topiramate in patients with symptomatic focal epilepsy can be achieved by increasing its dose higher then middle therapeutic.