Swiderska N, et al. - This national multicentre study was performed to examine the effectiveness and tolerability of Perampanel in children, adolescents and young adults with refractory epilepsy amongst paediatric neurologists in the United Kingdom. In children, adolescents and young adults with refractory epilepsy, Perampanel was fairly effective. The rate of adverse events leading to discontinuation was considerable in this group.

• The clinicians gathered data via an online questionnaire sent to paediatric neurologists in the UK.
• Data gathered included changes in seizure frequency from baseline and unwanted effects at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up, prospective in 62 (64.5%) and retrospective in 34 (35.5%) patients.
• They included patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months only.

• The clinicians included 96 patients (48 females) with refractory epilepsy from 11 of 29 tertiary centres.
• In this study, median [IQR] (range) age was 14 years 11 months [12 years, 16 years 6 months] (11 months-24 years 5 months).
• 73 (76%) had focal epilepsy, 16 (17%) generalised, and 7 (7%) patients both generalised and focal epilepsy.
• The responder rate, ≥50% seizure reduction from baseline, was 19% for all seizure types at both 6 and 12 months, 19% and 24% for focal seizures, and 25% and 7% for generalised seizures at these time points respectively.
• At 12 months, the retention rate was 42%.
• Due to unwanted effects, treatment was discontinued in 29 (36.7%) of the 79 patients with follow-up data available up to 12 months: 30% due to challenging behaviour, 14% dizziness, and 7.6% somnolence.