A Paradigm Shift in Preventing Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: Pavel Klein, MD

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

"This is a very exciting time in epilepsy, with numerous developments holding exciting potential for future breakthroughs. We now know how to predict whether a patient will develop drug-resistant epilepsy early on in their disease, opening new avenues for intervention and prevention. Also, the landscape of response to refractory epilepsy has seen remarkable changes with recently approved medications, offering newfound hope to those with limited treatment options."

Epilepsy, a chronic neurologic disorder, affects over 70 million patients globally. Despite the over 20 available antiseizure drugs for symptomatic treatment of epileptic seizures, about one-third of patients have seizures refractory to pharmacotherapy. Patients with this type of drug-resistant epilepsy have increased risks of premature death, injuries, psychosocial dysfunction, and a reduced quality of life.¹ Thus, early detection of drug-resistant epilepsy is crucial in order to establish potential treatment alternatives and determine if epilepsy surgery is the right treatment choice.²

At the 2023 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting, held December 1-5, in Orlando, Florida,SK Life Science is hosting a symposium titled “Impact of Continued Seizures and Strategies for Seizure Reduction/Freedom” that will be led by experts in the field.³ The company noted that the symposium will discuss currently available strategies for reducing and achieving seizure freedom, and the need to better understand patient goals for achieving seizure freedom and the impact of continued seizures on patients. Additionally, experts will speak on evidence-based treatment adjustments before patients consider surgery and the various treatment options available to support them in their epilepsy journey.

Prior to the upcoming symposium, one of the speakers, Pavel Klein, MD, director of the Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy & Sleep Center and adjunct associate professor of neurology at George Washington University, sat downto provide an overview of the planned presentation. He spoke about how the advancements in genetic understanding and seizure detection technologies are potentially transforming epilepsy research and treatment. He also talked about the limitations faced by the one-third of Americans with epilepsy who don't respond to medications, and how the treatment landscape has evolved over the decades. Furthermore, Klein explained how early intervention using effective treatments can potentially suppress or prevent drug-resistant epilepsy, and the indicators that can help identify patients on this path.

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REFERENCES
1. Löscher W, Potschka H, Sisodiya SM, Vezzani A. Drug Resistance in Epilepsy: Clinical Impact, Potential Mechanisms, and New Innovative Treatment Options. Pharmacol Rev. 2020;72(3):606-638. doi:10.1124/pr.120.019539
2. López González FJ, Rodríguez Osorio X, Gil-Nagel Rein A, et al. Drug-resistant epilepsy: definition and treatment alternatives. Neurologia. 2015;30(7):439-446. doi:10.1016/j.nrl.2014.04.012
3. SK Life Science to Host Symposium and Present New Data at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) 2023 Annual Meeting. News Release. SK Life Science. Published November 28, 2023. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sk-life-science-to-host-symposium-and-present-new-data-at-the-american-epilepsy-society-aes-2023-annual-meeting-301998374.html