Anup Patel, MD: Challenges Associated With Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

"They have an increased probability of not being able to live independently, [which] therefore puts a challenge and burden on caregivers longitudinally.”

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare form of epilepsy that develops over time with childhood seizures and often remains uncontrolled by treatments. Both children and adults with LGS share similar features that include seizures starting early in childhood, experiencing more than 1 type of seizure, and potentially having developmental delay or cognitive impairment.

LGS occurs secondary to many different causes including injury, brain malformations, infections, and genetic factors. Patients with LGS also may have more abnormal brain imaging and may develop their disorder from other epilepsies syndromes. Anup Patel, MD, associate professor of clinical pediatrics, Ohio State University, and section chief of pediatric neurology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, claims there are a multitude of challenges these patients with LGS face in comparison to other epilepsies.

In an interview with NeurologyLive, Patel highlighted a few of the obstacles including the increased likelihood of being treatment-resistant, numerous occurring comorbidities, and economic costs that cover the care of living.