Objective: We evaluated potassium bromide's (KBr's) efficacy and tolerability for pediatric refractory epilepsy.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 42 patients treated with KBr in our hospital between 2008 and 2016 (age: 4 months to 19 years; mean: 6.2 years). Thirteen of them had 2 seizure types. The treatment durations ranged from 1 month to 6 years (mean: 15.0 months).
Results: KBr had an excellent effect (seizure-free status) in 3 patients (7.1%), a moderate effect (>50% reduction in seizure frequency from the pretreatment baseline) in 21 patients (50.0%), and no effect (<50% reduction in seizure frequency from the pretreatment baseline) in 18 patients (42.9%). The effective daily doses ranged from 20 to 80 mg/kg (mean: 50.0 mg/kg). KBr was effective in 59.1% patients with generalized epilepsy (n = 22), 55.6% patients with focal epilepsy (n = 18), and both patients with Dravet syndrome. An excellent or moderate effect was found in 72.2% patients with tonic seizures (n = 18), 66.6% patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (n = 6), 75.0% patients with secondary generalized seizures (n = 4), 46.2% patients with focal seizures (n = 13), and 20% patients with infantile spasms (n = 10) but no patients with myoclonic seizures (n = 2). Adverse effects including drowsiness, excitement, and rashes were reported in 13 patients (31.0%).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that KBr is particularly effective for tonic seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and secondary generalized seizures. Although the adverse effects need further attention, KBr should be considered for pediatric refractory epilepsy.
Keywords: Dravet syndrome; pediatric refractory epilepsy; potassium bromide; tonic seizures.