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Fenfluramine as antiseizure medication for epilepsy

Gogou, M; Cross, JH; (2021) Fenfluramine as antiseizure medication for epilepsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 10.1111/dmcn.14822. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

Fenfluramine hydrochloride has classically been described as acting pharmacologically through a serotonergic mechanism. Therefore, it was initially used as an anorectic drug, given that impaired serotonin homeostasis may be associated with increased food intake. Although positive results were documented, cardiovascular concerns resulted in its temporary withdrawal. Nevertheless, a novel role in patients with epilepsy was later suggested by isolated clinical observations. The wide application of genetic testing allowed the classification (predominantly as Dravet syndrom) of patients in whom benefit was seen, while with the development of zebrafish models, its antiepileptic properties were confirmed at a molecular level. Data from randomized clinical trials have shown a beneficial effect of fenfluramine, as an adjunct therapy, on seizure control for children with Dravet syndrome, though there is still uncertainty about the impact on neurodevelopment in these patients. No signs of heart valve disease have been documented to date. Long-term and appropriately designed clinical studies will verify whether fenfluramine is a therapeutic agent of high importance, living up to the promise shown so far.

Type: Article
Title: Fenfluramine as antiseizure medication for epilepsy
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14822
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14822
Language: English
Additional information: © 2021 The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Developmental Neurosciences Dept
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10122202
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