Efficacy of perampanel in pediatric epilepsy with known and presumed genetic etiology

Abstract

ObjectiveThe efficacy of perampanel (PER) in pediatric epilepsy with specific etiologies has not been well established. Here, we investigated outcome and predictors of PER treatment in a pediatric cohort with known and presumed genetic etiology.MethodsWe included pediatric patients with potential genetic epilepsy who received PER treatment and underwent whole‐exome sequencing (WES) from January 2020 to September 2021. All patients were followed up for >12 months.ResultsA total of 124 patients were included. Overall response rates were 51.6% and 49.6% at 6 months and 12 months, respectively. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 27 multiple genes were detected among 58 patients (46.8%) by WES. On performing multivariate logistic regression analysis, only developmental delay (OR = 0.406, P = 0.042) was a negative predictor of treatment response. However, the seizure onset age, positive WES results, and number of ASMs before PER administration were not significantly. Thirteen carriers with variants in the SCN1A gene showed a better response compared to eight patients with other sodium channels (P = 0.007), and to the other 45 patients with positive WES results (OR = 7.124, 95% CI = 1.306–38.860, P = 0.023). Adverse events were only reported in 23 patients, the most common being emotional problems.InterpretationPER is safe and efficacious in pediatric patients with known and presumed genetic etiology. The response rate is comparable to that reported in other pediatric populations, and lower among those with developmental delay. A gene‐specific response to PER is found along with better efficacy links to pathogenic variants in the SCN1A gene.

Initial therapeutic target attainment of perampanel in pediatric patients with epilepsy

“…The patients’ medical records, dosage of PER, age, sex, body weight, and comedications (other AEDs). The dosing strategy was set by the physician according to its label, which was detailly described in our previous publication ( Miao et al, 2023 ). In our hospital, PER TDM was performed 3 weeks after initiation of PER treatment, as PER would achieve steady states after 19 days of dosing.…”