Effect of topiramate for patients with intractable epilepsy

The effects of topiramate (TPM) were evaluated in 51 patients with intractable epilepsy. Callosotomy and hemispherotomy were performed in 16 patients and one patient before the administration of TPM, respectively. The 50% responder rate (50%RR) was recorded in 39% of the total patient population and in 58% of patients with symptomatic location-related epilepsy (SLE). TPM was most effective for frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE), and the 50%RR was recorded in 88% of those patients. TPM (50%RR) was more effective in secondary generalized seizures (in 75%) and complex partial seizures (in 67%) in comparison to that of tonic-clonic seizures (in 44%) and drop attacks (in 29%). Seventy-one percent of the patients with atypical absence seizures increased seizure frequency. The 50%RR was recorded in 22% of the patients who underwent epilepsy surgery, and 29% of those patients also showed seizure aggravation due to TPM. These results suggest the efficacy of TPM for intractable epilepsy.