Eslicarbazepine in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy: a single-center experience

Purpose: Brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE) is frequent in patients affected with glioma. Most patients have refractory seizures and require polytherapy. Promising treatment options derive from the development of novel anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), like Eslicarbazepine (ESL), whose role in BTRE has not yet been explored. Our aim was to report a retrospective cohort of patients affected by BTRE treated with ESL as an adjunctive therapy and to discuss the potential role of this third-generation AED in this clinical context. Methods: We analyzed a single-center, retrospectively collected cohort of patients affected by glioma and BTRE, treated with ESL as an adjunctive therapy. Results: Analysis included 5 males and 3 females with age ranging from 37 to 75 years (mean = 55.5). Mean baseline Karnofsky performance status was 87.5 (range 70–100). Patients were affected by diffuse astrocytoma (3), low grade oligodendroglioma (2), anaplastic glioma (2) and glioblastoma (1). Mean follow-up was 19 months (range 6–59). Mean dose at the last follow-up was 950 mg daily. Mean weekly seizures in the month before initiation of ESL numbered 17.6 (range 0.25–50). At the last follow-up, mean weekly seizures were 2.2 (range 0–10), i.e. significantly lower than baseline (p = 0.03). The mean reduction of seizures achieved after introduction of ESL was 65%, with 6/8 patients (75%) showing a reduction of more than 50%. Two patients (25%) were seizure free. Conclusions: This single-center experience suggests that ESL may be a well-tolerated, efficacious option as an add-on drug in the treatment of BTRE.