Managing Dravet Syndrome: Aiming for Better Outcomes

TARGET AUDIENCE
The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of neurologists, pediatric neurologists, epileptologists, pediatric epileptologists, pediatricians, primary care providers, general practitioners, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists involved and/or interested in the management of patients with DS.

STATEMENT OF NEED/PROGRAM OVERVIEW
For years, a 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency has been a dominant endpoint to assess the efficacy of antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of Dravet syndrome (DS). However the impact of this endpoint on outcomes that are clinically meaningful to the patient has been debated. In practice, clinicians must balance reduction of seizure burden with adverse effects of therapies, as this endpoint is rarely achieved. While seizure control is extremely important, patient visits are often spent discussing the non‐seizure consequences of epilepsy syndromes, such as cognitive, psychological, and social issues. If seizures significantly improve, but comorbidities worsen, patients and their families often view this as a net negative outcome.

Join moderator Joseph Sullivan, MD and speaker M. Scott Perry, MD for an in-depth discussion of the need for validated, reliable, and usable instruments to measure non‐seizure outcomes in patients with DS, in both clinical trials and the clinic. These expert panelists will review the benefits and limitations of traditional DS medications, the roles of newer agents for DS, and evolving standards for evaluating treatment success. Framed by patient case vignettes, clinicians will leave this activity with a better understanding of the rationale for measuring success “beyond seizure numbers,” along with practical strategies to incorporate caregiver and patient input into care decisions.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:
• Summarize the limitations of traditional antiseizure medications in reducing frequency of seizures due to DS
• Examine seizure and non-seizure measures of treatment success for DS
• Devise strategies to measure DS treatment success incorporating assessments from patients, caregivers, and HCPs