Safety and efficacy of ganaxolone in patients with CDKL5 deficiency disorder: results from the double-blind phase of a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND: CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a rare, X-linked, developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterised by severe global developmental impairment and seizures that can begin in the first few months after birth and are often treatment refractory. Ganaxolone, an investigational neuroactive steroid, reduced seizure frequency in an open-label, phase 2 trial that included patients with CDD. We aimed to further assess the efficacy and safety of ganaxolone in patients with CDD-associated refractory epilepsy. METHODS: In the double-blind phase of this randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, done at 39 outpatient clinics in eight countries (Australia, France, Israel, Italy, Poland, Russia, the UK, and the USA), patients were eligible if they were aged 2-21 years with a pathogenic or probably pathogenic CDKL5 variant and at least 16 major motor seizures (defined as bilateral tonic, generalised tonic-clonic, bilateral clonic, atonic, or focal to bilateral tonic-clonic) per 28 days in each 4-week period of an 8-week historical period. After a 6-week prospective baseline period, patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via an interactive web response system to receive either enteral adjunctive ganaxolone or matching enteral adjunctive placebo (maximum dose 63 mg/kg per day for patients weighing ≤28 kg or 1800 mg/day for patients weighing >28 kg) for 17 weeks. Patients, caregivers, investigators (including those analysing data), trial staff, and the sponsor (other than the investigational product manager) were masked to treatment allocation. The primary efficacy endpoint was percentage change in median 28-day major motor seizure frequency from the baseline period to the 17-week double-blind phase and was analysed (using a Wilcoxon-rank sum test) in all patients who received at least one dose of trial treatment and for whom baseline data were available. Safety (compared descriptively across groups) was analysed in all patients who received at least one dose of trial treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03572933, and the open-label extension phase is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between June 25, 2018, and July 2, 2020, 114 patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 101 (median age 6 years [IQR 3 to 10]) were randomly assigned to receive either ganaxolone (n=50) or placebo (n=51). All patients received at least one dose of a study drug, but seizure frequency for one patient in the ganaxolone group was not recorded at baseline and so the primary endpoint was analysed in a population of 100 patients. There was a median percentage change in 28-day major motor seizure frequency of -30·7% (IQR -49·5 to -1·9) in the ganaxolone group and of -6·9% (-24·1 to 39·7) in the placebo group (p=0·0036). The Hodges-Lehmann estimate of median difference in responses to ganaxolone versus placebo was -27·1% (95% CI -47·9 to - 9·6). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 43 (86%) of 50 patients in the ganaxolone group and in 45 (88%) of 51 patients in the placebo group. Somnolence, pyrexia, and upper respiratory tract infections occurred in at least 10% of patients in the ganaxolone group and more frequently than in the placebo group. Serious adverse events occurred in six (12%) patients in the ganaxolone group and in five (10%) patients in the placebo group. Two (4%) patients in the ganaxolone group and four (8%) patients in the placebo group discontinued the trial. There were no deaths in the double-blind phase. INTERPRETATION: Ganaxolone significantly reduced the frequency of CDD-associated seizures compared with placebo and was generally well tolerated. Results from what is, to our knowledge, the first controlled trial in CDD suggest a potential treatment benefit for ganaxolone. Long-term treatment is being assessed in the ongoing open-label extension phase of this trial. FUNDING: Marinus Pharmaceuticals

Atención primaria de salud en la Enfermedad Cerebrovascular

Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo-descriptivo para evaluar las acciones de salud que el Médico de la Familia realizó sobre los pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular y que fallecieron por ese motivo en el Área de Salud "Carlos Verdugo", Matanzas, durante los años 1994 y 1995. Se estudiaron 50 fallecidos en entrevista médico-familiar; se obtuvieron los datos de, edad, sexo y antecedentes patológicos personales que recogieron: enfermedades crónicas y factores de riesgo; dispensarización, que recogió número de controles realizados en los últimos 12 meses que precedieron a la defunción ya fueran en consultas, visitas de terreno y visitas integrales, así como el cumplimiento del tratamiento indicado. Se encontró que se dispensarizaron en el 100 % de los fallecidos la hipertensión arterial, la cardiopatía isquémica, la obesidad y la hiperlipidemia. El 72,4 % (12 fallecidos) recibió entre 1 y 3 controles en consultas. El 79,3 % (16 fallecidos) recibió entre 1 y 3 controles en visitas de terreno y el 100 % se controló entre 1 y 3 ocasiones en visitas integrales a la familia. Se concluyó que el cumplimiento del tratamiento indicado para la enfermedad cerebrovascular, los factores de riesgo y enfermedades crónicas no fue satisfactorio en el grupo estudiado. Se recomienda realizar un mayor número de controles en la atención primaria a los pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular sobre todo cuando en la dispensarización se encuentra la asociación hipertensión arterial, hábito de fumar y mayores de 65 años.<br>A retrospective descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the health actions taken by the family physician in connection with those patients that suffered from cerebrovascular disease and died due to this cause in the "Carlos Verdugo" health area, Matanzas, during 1994 and 1995. 50 dead patients were studied through doctor relative interviews. The following data were obtained: age, sex, personal pathological history; including chronic diseases and risk factors, classification; which made possible to know the number of controls made during the last 12 months before death at the physician office or through field visits and comprehensive visits, and the fulfilment of treatment. 100 % of the dead patients were classified into arterial hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, obesity and hyperlipidaemia. 72.4 % (12 deceased patients) received between I and 3 controls at the physician's office. 79.3 % (16 dead patients) were controlled between 1 and 3 times by field visits, whereas 100 % were controlled from 1 to 3 occassions in comprehensive visits to the family. It was concluted that the fulfilment of the treatment indicated for the cerebrovascular disease, the risk factors and the chronic diseases was not satisfactory in the studied group. It is recommended to increase the number of controls at the primary care level among those patients with cerebrovascular disease, mainly when within the classification there is an association between hypertension and smoking habit in patients over 65

Influencia de la medicación antiepiléptica sobre los resultados escolares de niños epilépticos

Con el objetivo de conocer la influencia de la medicación antiepiléptica sobre los resultados escolares se estudiaron 30 niños que padecen crisis epilépticas parciales y que asisten a escuelas primarias normales. En entrevista familiar se recogió: medicación antiepiléptica usada, dosis en sangre y resultados académicos del último curso escolar que se correlacionó con las variables estudiadas con el test de correlación múltiple. El 80 % (24 niños) recibió tratamiento en monoterapia y 6 (20 %) politerapia. La fenitoína correlacionó significativamente (p < 0,005) con los resultados escolares M. Existe relación de los niveles elevados de droga en sangre con los peores resultados académicos.<br>With the aim of knowing the influence of antiepileptic drug therapy on learning outcomes, 30 children with partial epileptic crisis that go to normal primary schools, were studied. These data were collected in family interviews: antiepileptic drug therapy used, dose in blood, and academic outcomes in the last school course correlated with the variables studied with the multiple correlation test. Twenty four children (80 %) received monotherapy treatment, and six (20 %) received politherapy. Phenytoin significantly correlated (p < 0.005) with M school outcomes. There is a relation of the increased drug levels in blood with the worst academic results

Evaluación psicopedagógica de un grupo de niños epilépticos que asisten a escuelas primarias

Se estudiaron 30 niños que padecen crisis epilépticas parciales y que asisten a escuelas primarias normales, con el objetivo de conocer si presentan dificultades escolares y en qué asignaturas, para esto se realizó una evaluación psicopedagógica. Los resultados se compara-ron con un grupo control de 30 niños para lo cual se utilizó el test de comparación de medias. Se halló que 18 niños del grupo estudio (60 %) y 9 del grupo control (30 %) presentaron alguna dificultad en el cumplimiento de los objetivos del grado escolar, con una diferencia significativa entre los grupos de p < 0,001. Se concluye que las mayores dificultades escolares se encuentran en las áreas de Lectura y Español.<br>Thirty children with partial epileptic crisis that go to normal primary schools were studied, with the objective of knowing if they have learning difficulties, and in which subjects; with this purpose, a psychopedagogical assessment was carried out. Results were compared with a 30 children control group, and this was made through the mean comparison test. It was found that 18 children from the study group (60 %), and 9 from the control group (30 %) presented some difficulties in achieving the goals of the school grade with a significant difference between groups of p < 0,001. It is concluded that the highest learning difficulties are in the areas of Reading and Spanish

Clinical sequencing yield in epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective Clinical genetic sequencing is frequently utilized to diagnose individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Here we perform a meta-analysis and systematic review of the success rate (diagnostic yield) of clinical sequencing through next-generation sequencing (NGS) across NDDs. We compare the genetic testing yield across NDD subtypes and sequencing technology. Methods We performed a systematic review of the PubMed literature until May 2020. We included clinical sequencing studies that utilized NGS in individuals with epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or intellectual disability (ID). Data were extracted, reviewed, and categorized according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two investigators performed clinical evaluation and grouping following the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) guidelines. Pooled rates of the diagnostic yield and 95% confidence intervals were estimated with a random-effects model. Results We identified 103 studies (epilepsy, N = 72; ASD, N = 14; ID, N = 21) across 32,331 individuals. Targeted gene panel sequencing was used in 73, and exome sequencing in 36 cohorts. Given highly selected patient cohorts, the diagnostic yield was 17.1% for ASD, 24% for epilepsy, and 28.2% for ID (23.7% overall). The highest diagnostic yield for epilepsy subtypes was observed in individuals with ID (27.9%) and early onset seizures (36.8%). The diagnostic yield for exome sequencing was higher than for panel sequencing, even though not statistically significant (27.2% vs 22.6%, P = .071). We observed that clinical sequencing studies are performed predominantly in countries with a high Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) (countries with sequencing studies: IHDI median = 0.84, interquartile range [IQR] = 0.09 vs countries without sequencing studies: IHDI median = 0.56, IQR = 0.3). No studies from Africa, India, or Latin America were identified, indicating potential barriers to genetic testing. Significance This meta-analysis and systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of clinical sequencing studies of NDDs and will help guide policymaking and steer decision-making in patient management