New treatment options for lennox-gastaut syndrome.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is one of the most difficult epilepsy syndromes to treat, and many children are refractory to standard treatment regimens. Valproic acid, topiramate, and lamotrigine are considered first-line therapies. Newer agents, including clobazam and rufinamide, are promising additions to the current treatment options. The ketogenic diet and vagus nerve stimulation are important adjuncts, with increasing evidence to support their use. Corpus callosotomy should be considered in refractory cases. Finally, focal resective surgery should be considered in patients with lesional disease, although for most patients with LGS this is unlikely to be the case.

Duke Scholars

Author Monica Elizabeth Lemmon Pediatrics, Neurology