Current trends in epileptology: priorities, challenges, tasks and solutions
G. N. Avakyan,
E. D. Belousova,
S. G. Burd,
P. N. Vlasov,
N. A. Ermolenko,
M. Ya. Kissin,
A. V. Lebedeva,
L. V. Lipatova,
G. Kiteva-Trenchevska https://doi.org/10.17749/2077-8333.2019.11.4.395-406
Abstract
Within a field meeting of experts from the Russian branch of the League Against Epilepsy (RLAE), diagnostic and treatment aspects of epilepsy were discussed with the emphasis on the female population (girls, women of childbearing and older ages). All experts underscored the special features and unique needs of female patients with epilepsy. Experimental and clinical studies on efficacy and safety of traditional and novel antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) applied to women with epilepsy were discussed. It was commonly agreed that the new generation of AEDs did not yet find an appropriate place in the clinical practice, and that they were mainly used as add-on therapy in order to overcome drug resistance. The current use of AEDs in the treatment of epilepsy is, by large, not gender-specific and is not related enough to age, sociodemographic characteristics, and comorbid disorders. It should be noted that the new AEDs are addressed specifically to individual, socio-demographic, gender and clinical features of the patient. The potential of some AEDs (lamotrigine), in fact, remains underestimated by practitioners. Due to the current restrictions in using valproic acid, lamotrigine is the alternative medication for women with epilepsy. Having a balanced profile of efficacy and safety, lamotrigine is recommended as the first choice drug for initial therapy, as well as an alternative monotherapy for epilepsy in women.
These data were presented at the Russian League Against Epilepsy (RLAE) on-site meeting “Epilepsy and Woman” 18 September 2019 (Ohrid, Makedonia).
Keywords
epilepsy,
women,
female epilepsy,
RLAE,
pregnancy,
lamotrigine,
Seizar,
AED efficacy,
major malformations,
epilepsy comorbidity,
bipolar,
depression
Supporting agencies: The on-site meeting and publication were funded by Alkaloid (Makedonia).
About the Authors
G. N. Avakyan
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation
Gagik N. Avakyan – MD, PhD, Professor, Honored Scientist of Russia, Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics
Russian Federation
Gagik N. Avakyan – MD, PhD, Professor, Honored Scientist of Russia, Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics
E. D. Belousova
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation
Elena D. Belousova – MD, PhD, Professor, Head of the Department of Psychoneurology and Epileptology
Russian Federation
Elena D. Belousova – MD, PhD, Professor, Head of the Department of Psychoneurology and Epileptology
S. G. Burd
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation
Sergey G. Burd – MD, PhD, Professor at the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Pediatrics
Russian Federation
Sergey G. Burd – MD, PhD, Professor at the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Pediatrics
P. N. Vlasov
A.I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Pavel N. Vlasov – MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine
Russian Federation
Pavel N. Vlasov – MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine
N. A. Ermolenko
Voronezh Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital №1
Russian Federation
Natalia A. Ermolenko – MD, PhD, Chief pediatric neurologist, Voronezh region, Head of the Department of Neurology
Russian Federation
Natalia A. Ermolenko – MD, PhD, Chief pediatric neurologist, Voronezh region, Head of the Department of Neurology
M. Ya. Kissin
Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University
Russian Federation
Mikhail Ya. Kissin – MD, PhD, Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Drug Addiction
Russian Federation
Mikhail Ya. Kissin – MD, PhD, Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Drug Addiction
A. V. Lebedeva
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
Russian Federation
Anna V. Lebedeva – MD, PhD, Professor at the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Pediatrics
Russian Federation
Anna V. Lebedeva – MD, PhD, Professor at the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Pediatrics
L. V. Lipatova
Almazov National Medical Research Center
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Liudmila V. Lipatova – MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Education
Scopus Author ID: 36892509600. Researcher ID: M-5928-2018
G. Kiteva-Trenchevska
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Gordana Kiteva-Trencevska – MD, PhD, specialist in neuropsychiatry and family medicine; Head of the Department at the Clinic of Neurology, Mother Teresa Clinical Center, Faculty of Medicine
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Gordana Kiteva-Trencevska – MD, PhD, specialist in neuropsychiatry and family medicine; Head of the Department at the Clinic of Neurology, Mother Teresa Clinical Center, Faculty of Medicine
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For citations:
Avakyan G.N., Belousova E.D., Burd S.G., Vlasov P.N., Ermolenko N.A., Kissin M.Ya., Lebedeva A.V., Lipatova L.V., Kiteva-Trenchevska G. Current trends in epileptology: priorities, challenges, tasks and solutions. Epilepsy and paroxysmal conditions. 2019;11(4):395-406. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17749/2077-8333.2019.11.4.395-406
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