Efficacy and safety of cenobamate in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis in adult, pediatric, and combined populations.

What was studied

This meta-analysis looked at cenobamate in drug-resistant epilepsy. Cenobamate is a seizure drug. The US FDA approved it in 2019 for adults with focal-onset seizures. Experience in children is limited. The team compared both age groups. The review included 36 studies. 22 studies covered 6,256 adults. 6 studies covered 256 children. 8 mixed-age studies covered 451 patients.

What they found

In adults, the pooled response rate was 0.65. The seizure freedom rate was 0.15. Adverse events had a rate of 0.63. Serious adverse events had a rate of 0.00. In children, the response rate was 0.60. Seizure freedom was 0.20. Adverse events were 0.48. Serious adverse events were 0.03. These child figures were close to the adult figures. Overall, the response rate was 0.63. Seizure freedom was 0.15. Adverse events were 0.62. Serious adverse events were 0.00.

What it means for patients

The authors say child estimates were numerically similar to adult ones. They say these come from indirect subgroup comparisons. They say care is needed in reading them. They say most studies were retrospective with small child samples. They say further prospective studies are needed in children.

Why it is not certain yet

The child findings come from indirect subgroup comparisons. Most studies were retrospective, with few children. The child samples were small. The authors say this limits the strength of evidence in children. 8 mixed-age studies could not be split by age.

Source

Efficacy and safety of cenobamate in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis in adult, pediatric, and combined populations.

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