Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami

Clobazam (CLB) and cenobamate (CNB) are commonly used antiseizure medications (ASMs) in the treatment of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). However, concomitant use of these two ASMs may lead to significant treatment-related adverse events (TRAE). Furthermore, these TRAE may be exacerbated...

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Main Authors: Andrew Zillgitt, David E Burdette, Atheel Yako, Revati Rashingkar, Ashleigh Terrell, Sydney Jacobs, Michael D Staudt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589986425000590
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author Andrew Zillgitt
David E Burdette
Atheel Yako
Revati Rashingkar
Ashleigh Terrell
Sydney Jacobs
Michael D Staudt
author_facet Andrew Zillgitt
David E Burdette
Atheel Yako
Revati Rashingkar
Ashleigh Terrell
Sydney Jacobs
Michael D Staudt
author_sort Andrew Zillgitt
collection DOAJ
description Clobazam (CLB) and cenobamate (CNB) are commonly used antiseizure medications (ASMs) in the treatment of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). However, concomitant use of these two ASMs may lead to significant treatment-related adverse events (TRAE). Furthermore, these TRAE may be exacerbated in individuals with genetic polymorphisms involving the P450 system. In patients with DRE, epilepsy surgery, including neuromodulation, may lead to improved seizure control and a reduction in systemic TRAE from ASMs. This case report describes a patient with drug-resistant idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) who experienced persistent excessive somnolence correlated with elevated N-desmethylclobazam (N-CLB) levels. Pharmacogenetic testing revealed poor metabolism of CYP2C19, and N-CLB levels remained elevated and detectable for nearly one year after the discontinuation of treatment with CLB and CNB. Responsive neurostimulator (RNS) implantation within the bilateral centromedian nuclei (CMN) of the thalamus resulted in seizure freedom until N-CLB levels fell, after which there was an 83–93 % reduction in the frequency of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC).
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institution DOAJ
issn 2589-9864
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publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
spelling doaj-art-0080263d09304d789ebcdce9e6fcf5ff2025-08-20T02:50:27ZengElsevierEpilepsy & Behavior Reports2589-98642025-09-013110079910.1016/j.ebr.2025.100799Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalamiAndrew Zillgitt0David E Burdette1Atheel Yako2Revati Rashingkar3Ashleigh Terrell4Sydney Jacobs5Michael D Staudt6Department of Neurology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital Adult Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Royal Oak, MI, USA; Corresponding author.Department of Neurology, Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital Adult Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Grand Rapids, MI, USADepartment of Neurology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USAOakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Rochester Hills, MI, USADepartment of Neurology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital Adult Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Royal Oak, MI, USADepartment of Neurology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USAClobazam (CLB) and cenobamate (CNB) are commonly used antiseizure medications (ASMs) in the treatment of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). However, concomitant use of these two ASMs may lead to significant treatment-related adverse events (TRAE). Furthermore, these TRAE may be exacerbated in individuals with genetic polymorphisms involving the P450 system. In patients with DRE, epilepsy surgery, including neuromodulation, may lead to improved seizure control and a reduction in systemic TRAE from ASMs. This case report describes a patient with drug-resistant idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) who experienced persistent excessive somnolence correlated with elevated N-desmethylclobazam (N-CLB) levels. Pharmacogenetic testing revealed poor metabolism of CYP2C19, and N-CLB levels remained elevated and detectable for nearly one year after the discontinuation of treatment with CLB and CNB. Responsive neurostimulator (RNS) implantation within the bilateral centromedian nuclei (CMN) of the thalamus resulted in seizure freedom until N-CLB levels fell, after which there was an 83–93 % reduction in the frequency of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589986425000590ClobazamCenobamatePharmacogeneticsIdiopathic generalized epilepsyResponsive neurostimulator
spellingShingle Andrew Zillgitt
David E Burdette
Atheel Yako
Revati Rashingkar
Ashleigh Terrell
Sydney Jacobs
Michael D Staudt
Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami
Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
Clobazam
Cenobamate
Pharmacogenetics
Idiopathic generalized epilepsy
Responsive neurostimulator
title Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami
title_full Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami
title_fullStr Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami
title_full_unstemmed Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami
title_short Synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated N-desmethylclobazam levels, CYP450 genetic polymorphism, and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami
title_sort synergistic seizure reduction in patient with persistently elevated n desmethylclobazam levels cyp450 genetic polymorphism and responsive neurostimulator targeting centromedian nuclei of bilateral thalami
topic Clobazam
Cenobamate
Pharmacogenetics
Idiopathic generalized epilepsy
Responsive neurostimulator
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589986425000590
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