The experience of using anticonvulsant pregabalin in patients with cerebral gliomas and partial epileptic seizures after surgical treatment during the radiotherapy

Abstract

The efficiency of pregabalin in 49 patients, aged from 18 to 69 years of old, after surgical treatment on account of gliomas of the cerebral hemispheres (I-IV WHO) during radiotherapy in 2006-2010 has been studied. The first group consisted of 24 (48.9%) patients. They had their epileptic seizures before surgery. The second group - 17 (34,7%) - the first attacks occurred against the background of the radiotherapy. The third group - 8 (16,3%) - they have noted the reinforcement or the appearance of epileptiform against the background of the radiotherapy. Taking into account that conducted previously antiepileptic therapy by anticonvulsant was inefficient, pregabalin was used in the mode of polytherapy. Pregabalin doses ranged from 150 to 450 mg / cut. The clinical effect in the form of deceleration of seizures in groups I and II is marked by 3-5 day, p = 0.043. The positive dynamics in the form of reduction or regression of epileptiform activity on EEG was recorded in the period of 7-10 days after the starting the therapy by pregabalin. All patients assessed the level of pain using a ten-point visual analog scale. In this case, a statistically significant difference in the scoring level of pain on the background radiation therapy and receiving pregabalin (p = 0.007) was recognized. All patients completed a course of radiotherapy. «Retention rates» in treatment of pregabalin on the background of the radiotherapy and the next 30 days after discharge from the hospital was 87%.

Keywords

• pregabalin
• cerebral gliomas
• partial seizures
• radiation therapy
• pain
• surgery