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Irish Child Health Database - Peer Reviewed Papers

Database Search

How to use this database.

• Method 1- uses a free natural language approach.

  After choosing the object of the search – by ticking title, abstract, aims and objective, or author - enter a term, word or name in the ‘Search’ box to return references answering your research question.

• Method 2 - utilises key words.

  Those key words assigned from thesauruses of controlled vocabulary by the trained coders of international bibliographic databases.
  The controlled vocabularies key word are listed alphanumerically under 'Bibliographic database keywords' .
  Use the drop down menu to identity which 'key words' you are interested in to return references to answer your research question.

• Method 3 - is based on the indexing system

  developed by the researchers who compiled this database.
  It adopts a thematic approach to mapping Irish child health research. The themed areas represent outcomes mapped to the International Classification of Disease version 10 (ICD-10) or one of 23 other health-related themed outcomes. Themes are defined in Tables 5 to 7 (of the study report).
  Use the alphabetic drop down menu under ‘ICD-10 or themed health-related outcomes’ to identity which themed areas you are interested in to select references to answer your research question.

• Method 4 – allows papers to be searched by Study type.

  Indexing by study type offers a valuable insight into understanding the population impact of the topic of interest. More than 20 study types were identified across the 2,152 study papers. These are defined in Table 3 (of the study report). Within 'Study type' papers are further stratification by geographical region (Table 49), topic area of interest and study aims and objectives.
  Click on 'Study type' to select the type of study of interest, progressively select sub-categories by topic area or other sub-classification of interest to answer your research question.

The complete background, methods and findings from this mapping exercise are detailed in the study report.

• The use of lamotrigine, vigabatrin and gabapentin as add-on therapy in intractable epilepsy of childhood

  Published in:

  Seizure, Vol: 14, Page: 112-6

  Publication Date:

  March 2005

  Aims & Objectives:

  This study examines the efficacy, long-term survival and adverse event profile of three anti-epiletic agents used as add-on therapy in children with refractory epilepsy over a 10-year period

  Abstract:

  PURPOSE: Lamotrigine (LTG), vigabatrin (VGB) and gabapentin (GBP) are three anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) used in the treatment of children with epilepsy for which long-term retention rates are not currently well known. This study examines the efficacy, long-term survival and adverse event profile of these three agents used as add-on therapy in children with refractory epilepsy over a 10-year period. METHODS: Three separate audits were conducted between February 1996 and September 2000. All children studied had epilepsy refractory to other AEDs. Efficacy was confirmed if a patient became seizure free or achieved >50% reduction in seizure frequency for 6 months or more after starting therapy. Adverse events and patient survival for each drug were recorded at the end of the study period. RESULTS: Between September 1990 and February 1996, 132 children received LTG, 80 VGB and 39 GBP. At the 10-year follow-up audit, 33% of the children on LTG had a sustained beneficial effect on their seizure frequency in contrast to 19% for VGB and 15% for GBP. No significant difference in efficacy was found in children with partial seizures. Children with epileptic encephalopathy (EE) including myoclonic-astatic epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) achieved a more favorable response to LTG. The main reasons for drug withdrawal were lack of efficacy for VGB, apparent worsening of seizures for GBP and the development of a rash for LTG. CONCLUSIONS: Lamotrigine is a useful add-on therapy in treating children with epilepsy. It has a low adverse event profile and a sustained beneficial effect in children with intractable epilepsy.

  Authors:

  D. G. McDonald; Y. Najam; M. B. Keegan; M. Whooley; D. Madden; J. B. McMenamin

  Study Type:

  Study Papers » Audit » Descriptive Studies - Measuring aspects of effectiveness

  Categories:

  anti-epiletic agents for refractory epilepsy

  International Classification:

  Diseases of the nervous system - Episodic and paroxysmal disorders - epilepsy

  Keywords:

  • Amines/adverse effects/ therapeutic use
  • Anticonvulsants/adverse effects/ therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids/adverse effects/ therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Drug Tolerance
  • Epilepsies, Partial/ drug therapy
  • Epilepsy, Generalized/ drug therapy
  • Female
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/adverse effects/ therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Triazines/adverse effects/ therapeutic use
  • Vigabatrin/adverse effects/ therapeutic use

  
  

  Geography:

  Republic of Ireland (Children's seizure Disorder Clinic Crumlin Hospital for Dublin)