Strafella Rebecca, Wang Richard, Petchpradub Marissa, Sacknovitz Ariel, McGoldrick Patricia E, Wolf Steven M
School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Epilepsy Behav Rep. 2024 Nov 19;28:100730. doi: 10.1016/j.ebr.2024.100730. eCollection 2024.
Fenfluramine is a medication originally approved for weight loss before being withdrawn for an association with the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and cardiac valvulopathy. Interest in fenfluramine at lower doses has re-emerged for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Here, we present a case of a patient with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) treated with fenfluramine with development of PAH and tricuspid regurgitation that resolved upon discontinuation. A 4-year-old female with LGS refractory to anti-seizure medications and neuromodulation was screened by echocardiogram and started on fenfluramine due to persistent seizures. At 6 months, the patient developed asymptomatic PAH and tricuspid regurgitation. The medication was discontinued, and 2 months post-cessation, an echocardiogram showed PAH and cardiac valvulopathy resolution. The patient was restarted on fenfluramine due to seizures, and follow up exam with echocardiogram 6 months following retrial showed no PAH recurrence. We present a case of LGS treated with fenfluramine complicated by PAH until cessation, with subsequent retrial tolerated. This is the first pediatric patient to develop cardiac abnormalities during treatment with fenfluramine, which has been demonstrated to be efficacious and safe in DRE at lower doses than those utilized for weight loss. With appropriate screening, fenfluramine should be considered as an adjunct treatment option for DRE in select patients, and PAH as a complication of the medication may be reversible and non-recurrent on retrial.
芬氟拉明是一种最初被批准用于减肥的药物,后来因与肺动脉高压(PAH)和心脏瓣膜病的发生有关联而被撤市。低剂量芬氟拉明在治疗耐药性癫痫(DRE)方面重新引起了关注。在此,我们报告一例患有伦诺克斯 - 加斯东综合征(LGS)的患者,使用芬氟拉明治疗后出现PAH和三尖瓣反流,停药后症状缓解。一名4岁患有LGS的女性,对抗癫痫药物和神经调节治疗无效,通过超声心动图进行筛查,因癫痫持续发作开始使用芬氟拉明。6个月时,患者出现无症状性PAH和三尖瓣反流。药物停用,停药2个月后,超声心动图显示PAH和心脏瓣膜病缓解。由于癫痫发作,患者重新开始使用芬氟拉明,再次试用6个月后的超声心动图随访检查显示无PAH复发。我们报告一例LGS患者,使用芬氟拉明治疗并发PAH,直至停药,随后再次试用可耐受。这是首例在使用芬氟拉明治疗期间出现心脏异常的儿科患者,已证明在低于用于减肥的剂量下,芬氟拉明在DRE中有效且安全。经过适当筛查,对于某些患者,芬氟拉明应被视为DRE的辅助治疗选择,并且作为药物并发症的PAH可能是可逆的,再次试用时不会复发。