Treatment-emergent adverse events and antiseizure medication actual drug load.

Objective: The correlation between treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) and antiseizure medication (ASM) drug load is a controversial topic. Previous studies used daily defined dosage (DDD) to measure drug load. We aim to assess if ASM adjusted to body weight and plasma levels were associated with TEAE.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of newer generation antiseizure medications at the point of treatment failure.

Purpose: The benefit of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of newer generation antiseizure medications (ASM) has been little studied. A recent randomized study suggested that TDM at each medical visit did not bring a significant benefit, but the study did not investigate TDM in cases of treatment failure. Accordingly, we realized a post hoc analysis of this trial.

Seizure freedom and plasma levels of newer generation antiseizure medications.

Objectives: Contrary to older antiseizure medications (ASM), correlation between plasma levels and seizure freedom is not well defined for newer generation ASM. We assessed correlations between efficacy and newer generation ASM plasma levels in patients with epilepsy.

Materials And Methods: Plasma medication levels were measured over two years in consecutive patients taking lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, zonisamide, lacosamide, perampanel or pregabalin.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Newer Antiepileptic Drugs: A Randomized Trial for Dosage Adjustment.

Objective: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is widely established for older generation AEDs, whereas there is limited evidence about newer AEDs. Our aim is to assess the benefit of TDM of newer generation AEDs in epilepsy.

Methods: We performed a randomized, controlled trial comparing systematic with rescue TDM of lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, brivaracetam, zonisamide, or pregabalin.

Intravenous brivaracetam in status epilepticus: Correlation between loading dose, plasma levels and clinical response.

Brivaracetam is available in intravenous formulation, and its favourable pharmacokinetic profile makes it a promising agent in the treatment of status epilepticus (SE). Its availability as an intravenous formulation and its favourable pharmacokinetic profile make it a promising agent in the treatment of status epilepticus. Our aim was to assess the correlation between BRV exposure and clinical response.

Closed-loop Neuropharmacology for Epilepsy: Distant Dream or Future Reality?

Epilepsy is considered the most frequent severe neurological condition but most patients treated with medication become seizure free. The management of treatment, however, is highly empirical, mainly relying on observation. A closed-loop therapy for epilepsy would be very valuable for more efficient treatment regimens.

Lower Cranial Nerves Paralysis Following Prone-Position Mechanical Ventilation.

Objective: To communicate a complication of prone-position ventilation.

Data Sources: Case history.

Study Selection: Case report.

Early Lance-Adams syndrome after cardiac arrest: Prevalence, time to return to awareness, and outcome in a large cohort.

Introduction: Early myoclonus after cardiac arrest (CA) is traditionally viewed as a poor prognostic sign (status myoclonus). However, some patients may present early Lance-Adams syndrome (LAS): under appropriate treatment, they can reach a satisfactory functional outcome. Our aim was to describe their profile, focusing on pharmacologic management in the ICU, time to return of awareness, and long-term prognosis.