A systematic review of treatment of typical absence seizures in children and adolescents with ethosuximide, sodium valproate or lamotrigine

PURPOSE To evaluate the role of ethosuximide, sodium valproate and lamotrigine in children and adolescents with typical absence seizures (AS). METHODS A systematic review of randomized controlled trials that included children or adolescents with typical absence seizures who received treatment with ethosuximide, sodium valproate or lamotrigine. RESULTS Four RCTs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies the results could not be pooled in a meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS We found no reliable evidence to inform clinical practice. The design of further trials should be pragmatic and compare one drug with another.