Safety of Early Discontinuation of Antiseizure Medication After Acute Symptomatic Neonatal Seizures
In this US comparative effectiveness study (n=303), no difference was found in functional neurodevelopment or epilepsy at age 24 months among children whose antiseizure medication was discontinued vs maintained at hospital discharge after resolution of seizures.
Source:
JAMA Neurology
SPS commentary:
Editorial provides an insight into the common neurological problem of seizure in neonates, the difficulties with recruitment for trials due to the concerns with stopping anti-seizure medication too early and the different anti-seizure medicines used in neonates. It notes their data supported the 2011 World Health Organization recommendation to consider stopping anti-seizure medicines without a taper after 72 hours of seizure freedom for neonates with normal findings on neurological examination and/or EEG. The current study suggests this recommendation should include all neonates with acute symptomatic seizures, even in the setting of an abnormal EEG and neurological examination results.