Abstract

PURPOSE Our goal was to perform a scoping systematic review of the literature on the use of plasmapheresis or plasma exchange (PE) for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in adults. METHODS Articles from MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Global Health, Healthstar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, clinicaltrials.gov (inception to May 2016), reference lists of relevant articles, and gray literature were searched. The strength of evidence was adjudicated using both the Oxford and GRADE methodology by two independent reviewers. RESULTS Twenty-two original articles were identified. Twenty-seven adult patients were described in these articles, with a variety of autoimmune conditions leading to RSE. Seizure response with the application of PE therapy occurred in 14 of the 27 patients (51.9%), with 1 (3.7%) and 13 (48.1%) displaying partial and complete responses respectively. Generalized RSE was the most likely seizure subtype to respond to PE therapy. One patient had recorded an adverse events related to PE therapy. CONCLUSIONS Oxford level 4, GRADE D evidence exists to suggest an uncertain response of adult autoimmune RSE to PE therapy. Thus, the routine application of PE therapy for adult autoimmune RSE cannot be recommended at this time.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Our goal was to perform a scoping systematic review of the literature on the use of plasmapheresis or plasma exchange (PE) for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in children. METHODS Articles from MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Global Health, Healthstar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, clinicaltrials.gov (inception to May 2016), reference lists of relevant articles, and gray literature were searched. The strength of evidence was adjudicated using both the Oxford and GRADE methodology by two independent reviewers. RESULTS Twenty-two original articles were identified, with 37 pediatric patients. The mean age of the patients was 8.3 years (age median: 8.5, range: 0.6 years-17 years). Seizure response to PE therapy occurred in 9 of the 37 patients (24.3%) included in the review, with 7 patients (18.9%) displaying resolution of seizures and 2 patients (5.4%) displaying a partial reduction in seizure volume. Twenty-eight of the 37 patients (75.7%) had no response to PE therapy. No adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSIONS Oxford level 4, GRADE D evidence exists to suggest little to no benefit of PE in pediatric RSE. Routine application of PE for pediatric RSE cannot be recommended at this time.

Abstract

PURPOSE Our goal was to perform a scoping systematic review of the literature on the use of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in adults. METHOD Articles from MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Global Health, Healthstar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, clinicaltrials.gov (inception to May 2016), reference lists of relevant articles, and gray literature were searched. The strength of evidence was adjudicated using both the Oxford and GRADE methodology by two independent reviewers. RESULTS Twenty-four original articles were identified. A total of 33 adult patients were described as receiving IVIG for RSE. Seizure reduction/control with IVIG occurred in 15 of the 33 patients (45.4%), with 1 (3.0%) and 14 (42.4%) displaying partial and complete responses respectively. No adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSION Oxford level 4, GRADE D evidence exists to suggest an unclear impact of IVIG therapy in adult RSE. Routine use of IVIG in adult RSE cannot be recommended at this time.