AofA Science Summary: A Review of Traditional and Novel Treatments for Seizures in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings from a Systematic Review and Expert Panel
A review of traditional and novel treatments for seizures in autism spectrum disorder: findings from a systematic review and expert panel
(Click HERE to download the pdf.)
Richard E. Frye1*, Daniel Rossignol2, Manuel F. Casanova3, Gregory L. Brown4, Victoria Martin4, Stephen Edelson5, Robert Coben6, Jeffrey Lewine7, John C. Slattery1, Chrystal Lau1, Paul Hardy8, S. Hossein Fatemi9, Timothy D. Folsom9, Derrick MacFabe10 and James B. Adams11
1Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
2Rossignol Medical Center, Irvine, CA, USA
3University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
4Autism Recovery and Comprehensive Health Medical Center, Franklin, WI, USA
5Autism Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
6New York University Brain Research Laboratory, New York, NY, USA
7MIND Research Network, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
8Hardy Healthcare Associates, Hingham, MA, USA
9University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
10University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
11Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Despite the fact that seizures are commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the effectiveness of treatments for seizures has not been well studied in individuals with ASD. This manuscript reviews both traditional and novel treatments for seizures associated with ASD. Studies were selected by systematically searching major electronic databases and by a panel of experts that treat ASD individuals. Only a few anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have undergone carefully controlled trials in ASD, but these trials examined outcomes other than seizures. Several lines of evidence point to valproate, lamotrigine, and levetiracetam as the most effective and tolerable AEDs for individuals with ASD. Limited evidence supports the use of traditional non-AED treatments, such as the ketogenic and modified Atkins diet, multiple subpial transections, immunomodulation, and neurofeedback treatments.
Although specific treatments may be more appropriate for specific genetic and metabolic syndromes associated with ASD and seizures, there are few studies which have documented the effectiveness of treatments for seizures for specific syndromes. Limited evidence supports l-carnitine, multivitamins, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine in mitochondrial disease and dysfunction, folinic acid in cerebral folate abnormalities and early treatment with vigabatrin in tuberous sclerosis complex.
Finally, there is limited evidence for a number of novel treatments, particularly magnesium with pyridoxine, omega-3 fatty acids, the gluten-free casein-free diet, and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic simulation. Zinc and l-carnosine are potential novel treatments supported by basic research but not clinical studies. This review demonstrates the wide variety of treatments used to treat seizures in individuals with ASD as well as the striking lack of clinical trials performed to support the use of these treatments. Additional studies concerning these treatments for controlling seizures in individuals with ASD are warranted.
Putting an End to Autism
by Fighting Brain Immunity Storms™
The science category is sponsored by AutismFreeBrain, Inc. was created to fund innovative research to develop a cure for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our studies have identified inflammatory processes in the brain, we called Brain Immunity Storms, that are much like an allergic reaction, releasing surges of molecules that disrupt areas of the brain responsible for emotion and language.
My son suffered a life threatening (2 weeks in hospital, including 6 days in ICU) adverse reaction to Lamotrogine this past April. The determination that it was a reaction to the Lamotrogine rather than an infection that caused his condition was made by the ICU team members that treated him and saved his life. A team member asked for, and received, our consent to publish his story in a pharmaceutical journal.
http://autisminnb.blogspot.ca/2013/05/conor-is-safe-now-but-we-almost-lost.html
Posted by: Harold L Doherty | September 17, 2013 at 11:08 PM
I predict when they finally get around to doing the research - that the very ones the diets helps the most will end up being the kids with immune problems and ASD.
Those 50 percent that the Ketogenic cures will be ASD kids.
And the modified Atkins diet - those early studies so far, yes. About 2/3 had a 50% reduction in seizures after 6 months. Many were able to reduce medications -will be the ASD kids.
So the main stream medicines needs to catch up to the parents that are already on the no gluten and cassien diets. Too slow and throwing too many lives away.
By the way; I am nothing, but I can read and it use to say - maybe it still does on the mitochondrial web sites; that valporic acid -that is Depokote should not be used for seizure control by those with this disorder.
I know it wiped my mother-in-law off the face of this earth. She was descending into dementia and heart disease from all the flu shots she received each year -- but the Depokote sure hurried her up.
For once I had some back bone and refused that medication. I left without anything - darn the neurologist's hide -- but bless him for changing it later when I called back needing something.
Posted by: Benedetta | September 16, 2013 at 10:50 PM
There is a thread in a parenting forum asking for parents to post whose children have had severe vaccine reactions: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1389941/anybody-here-whose-children-have-had-severe-reactions-to-vaccines
Have at it. Most of the stories that are posted here are not viewed by Average Mommy or Average Daddy as they research on the internet. They need to be posted on more mainstream sites, too.
Posted by: MomKnowsBest | September 16, 2013 at 03:09 PM