Antiepileptic drug treatment of children at a referral centre for epilepsy—Does admission make a difference?

PURPOSE To study the antiepileptic drug treatment of children at a referral centre for epilepsy, including a follow-up study three months after discharge. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study includes children admitted to The National Centre for Epilepsy in Norway. Data were collected from the medical records of 261 children, and a questionnaire regarding the pharmacological treatment was sent to their parents three months after discharge. RESULTS The most common reasons for admission to the referral centre were medical and diagnostic evaluation. New antiepileptic drugs were used more frequently than old, in 251 and 158 cases, respectively. 53 and 54% were using polytherapy at admission and discharge, respectively. Levetiracetam, valproate and lamotrigine were the most frequently used antiepileptic drugs before, during, and after the stay at the centre. Levetiracetam was the only drug being more frequently used at discharge/three months after discharge than at admission. Dosage adjustments were made in 83% of the patients following measurement of serum concentrations and clinical evaluation. According to the parents the number of adverse effects had been reduced by 20% three months after discharge. Likewise 40% stated that their children experienced better seizure control, and 47% that their family experienced a better everyday life after the stay. CONCLUSION Close comprehensive follow-up of children admitted to the referral centre, with main focus on optimalization of the pharmacological treatment, is of importance regarding quality of life aspects both to the children and their families.