The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development
Abstract Background Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are a group of congenital brain malformation disorders commonly associated with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (PRE). While studies often focus on surgery outcomes, the pharmacological treatment is still imperative and the odyssey to PRE re...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04019-9 |
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| author | Pu Miao Meiping Ying Ruotong Chen Yuyu Yang Yao Ding Junming Zhu Jianhua Feng Jin Wang Thandar Aung Shuang Wang Bo Jin |
| author_facet | Pu Miao Meiping Ying Ruotong Chen Yuyu Yang Yao Ding Junming Zhu Jianhua Feng Jin Wang Thandar Aung Shuang Wang Bo Jin |
| author_sort | Pu Miao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are a group of congenital brain malformation disorders commonly associated with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (PRE). While studies often focus on surgery outcomes, the pharmacological treatment is still imperative and the odyssey to PRE remains underexplored. We aim to investigate the influence of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) on the development of PRE in this specific patient population. Methods We retrospectively included a cohort of epilepsy patients with MRI-confirmed MCD due to abnormal cell proliferation and apoptosis (group I, mainly FCD II), and abnormal neuronal migration (group II, mainly heterotopia, lissencephaly, and polymicrogyria) from March 2013 to June 2023. The clinical features of group I and group II were compared. Factors associated with PRE were analyzed. The time to development of PRE with different ASMs was assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results Of 259 enrolled patients with epilepsy and MRI-confirmed MCD (group I, n = 121; group II, n = 138), 73.4% met the criteria for PRE. The median duration of follow-up from seizure onset to the last visit or surgery was 103 months (IQR 45–174), with group I showing a significantly higher PRE rate than group II (90.1% vs. 58.7%, p = 0.000). Binomial regression analysis identified the significant predictors of PRE in MCD patients: high pretreatment seizure frequency (OR = 2.506), group II patients (OR = 0.248), and failure of the first ASM (OR = 5.885). Sodium channel blockers (SCBs) were the most prescribed initial ASMs and demonstrated a higher response rate than other ASMs. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that using SCBs as the first ASM significantly prolongs the time to PRE, with a median of 72 months for SCB users versus 48 months for non-SCB users. Conclusions Our findings indicate a high prevalence of PRE that varies among different subtypes of MCD. Early appropriate selection of ASMs, particularly SCBs, can significantly delay the time to PRE onset, offering a promising strategy for managing this complex patient population. Tailoring pharmacological approaches is crucial for optimizing outcomes, and further research is warranted to optimize treatment strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4f06d3b054c437894ad6eda477f885d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d4f06d3b054c437894ad6eda477f885d2025-08-20T03:10:06ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152025-04-0123111010.1186/s12916-025-04019-9The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical developmentPu Miao0Meiping Ying1Ruotong Chen2Yuyu Yang3Yao Ding4Junming Zhu5Jianhua Feng6Jin Wang7Thandar Aung8Shuang Wang9Bo Jin10Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Pediatric, School of Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Epilepsy Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineAbstract Background Malformations of cortical development (MCD) are a group of congenital brain malformation disorders commonly associated with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (PRE). While studies often focus on surgery outcomes, the pharmacological treatment is still imperative and the odyssey to PRE remains underexplored. We aim to investigate the influence of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) on the development of PRE in this specific patient population. Methods We retrospectively included a cohort of epilepsy patients with MRI-confirmed MCD due to abnormal cell proliferation and apoptosis (group I, mainly FCD II), and abnormal neuronal migration (group II, mainly heterotopia, lissencephaly, and polymicrogyria) from March 2013 to June 2023. The clinical features of group I and group II were compared. Factors associated with PRE were analyzed. The time to development of PRE with different ASMs was assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results Of 259 enrolled patients with epilepsy and MRI-confirmed MCD (group I, n = 121; group II, n = 138), 73.4% met the criteria for PRE. The median duration of follow-up from seizure onset to the last visit or surgery was 103 months (IQR 45–174), with group I showing a significantly higher PRE rate than group II (90.1% vs. 58.7%, p = 0.000). Binomial regression analysis identified the significant predictors of PRE in MCD patients: high pretreatment seizure frequency (OR = 2.506), group II patients (OR = 0.248), and failure of the first ASM (OR = 5.885). Sodium channel blockers (SCBs) were the most prescribed initial ASMs and demonstrated a higher response rate than other ASMs. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that using SCBs as the first ASM significantly prolongs the time to PRE, with a median of 72 months for SCB users versus 48 months for non-SCB users. Conclusions Our findings indicate a high prevalence of PRE that varies among different subtypes of MCD. Early appropriate selection of ASMs, particularly SCBs, can significantly delay the time to PRE onset, offering a promising strategy for managing this complex patient population. Tailoring pharmacological approaches is crucial for optimizing outcomes, and further research is warranted to optimize treatment strategies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04019-9Malformations of cortical developmentPharmacoresistant epilepsySodium channel blockers |
| spellingShingle | Pu Miao Meiping Ying Ruotong Chen Yuyu Yang Yao Ding Junming Zhu Jianhua Feng Jin Wang Thandar Aung Shuang Wang Bo Jin The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development BMC Medicine Malformations of cortical development Pharmacoresistant epilepsy Sodium channel blockers |
| title | The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development |
| title_full | The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development |
| title_fullStr | The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development |
| title_full_unstemmed | The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development |
| title_short | The response to anti-seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development |
| title_sort | response to anti seizure medications and the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in malformations of cortical development |
| topic | Malformations of cortical development Pharmacoresistant epilepsy Sodium channel blockers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04019-9 |
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