Admissions of inequality: emergency hospital use for children and young people

Does a child's socioeconomic background have an effect on rates of admissions to hospital for common conditions such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy?  Report from the Nuffield Trust.

Triheptanoin (UX-007) for glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (de vivo disease) – first line

Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1 DS) is a rare genetic disorder that affects how the body moves glucose (used for energy) into the brain. The most common symptom of this condition is seizures (epilepsy), which usually begin within the first few months of life. However, the symptoms and severity of Glut1 deficiency syndrome can vary substantially from one person to another.

Triheptanoin is a novel drug being developed to reduce seizures and other symptoms in patients with Glut1 DS. The drug acts by producing a substitute compound that can produce glucose in the brain. The safety and efficacy of triheptanion is currently being evaluated. If marketed this will become the first licensed treatment in reduction of seizures in patients with Glut1 DS.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

NIHR Signal A range of anti-epilepsy drugs are effective as first-line

Lamotrigine and levetiracetam are emerging as first-line treatments for epilepsy, which people may be more likely to keep taking than carbamazepine. Reducing the risk of adverse events and treatment withdrawal is important when selecting an anti-epilepsy drug as it usually will need to be taken long-term.

Supporting the safety of girls and women being treated with valproate

A resource alert has been issued jointly by NHS Improvement and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to support the safety of girls and women of childbearing potential being treated with valproate.

Stress a common seizure trigger in epilepsy, study affirms

The relationship between stress and seizures has been well documented over the last 50 years. A recent review article looks at the stress-seizure relationship and how adopting stress reduction techniques may provide benefit as a low risk form of treatment.

Latest review of new and emerging technologies in development for epilepsy

The NIHR Horizon Scanning Research and Intelligence Centre has published a new online report that describes over 100 exciting new technologies that being developed to improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of epilepsy in the future.

Monotherapy treatment of epilepsy in pregnancy: congenital malformation outcomes in the child

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD010224.pub2. November 2016. 

Exposure in the womb to certain antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) carried an increased risk of malformation in the foetus and may be associated with specific patterns of malformation. Based on current evidence, LEV and LTG exposure carried the lowest risk of overall malformation; however, data pertaining to specific malformations are lacking. Physicians should discuss both the risks and treatment efficacy with the patient prior to commencing treatment.

UHCW Research: Naghme Adab

How can we minimise the risks to patients when using intravenous phenytoin in status epilepticus (SE)?

Phenytoin is prone to errors in its prescribing, dose calculation, preparation and administration and, as it is relatively rarely used, a lack of familiarity when managing a medical emergency such as status epilepticus (SE) may lead to patient risk and harm.

Ensuring that the teams who may be called upon to use IV phenytoin in SE are familiar with the risks and are supported by training, protocols and equipment will help to reduce the risk of patient harm.

From the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

Multiple whistling seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy: A case report and review of the literature

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, December 2016, vol. 151, p. 61-64

Case report of a 76 year-old man with temporal lobe epilepsy and cognitive imparment, experiencing multiple focal dyscognitive seizures with proiminent whistling recorded in videotelemetry.

UHCW Research: Lawley, A., Khan, Haseb A., Hegde, V.

Brivaracetam (Brivioact®)

The Midlands Therapeutics Review and Advisory Committee's advice on the use of Brivaracetam for the adjunctive treatment of focal seizures in epilepsy.

Epilepsy in Pregnancy (Green-top Guideline No.68)

This RCOG guideline summarises the evidence on maternal and fetal outcomes in women with epilepsy (WWE), and provides recommendations on the care of WWE during the prepregnancy, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods.