Modern approaches in the treatment of Lennox–gastaut syndrome (a review of literature)

Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a childhood epileptic encephalopathy characterized by frequent polymorphic seizures (including tonic axial seizures), pronounced cognitive impairment, typical changes in the electroencephalogram and drug resistance. Frequency of LGS accounts for approximately 4–10 % of all childhood epilepsy. The difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of LGS are associated with the presence of various seizures that are frequently resistant to multiple antiepileptic drugs as well as with the disease evolution with age. This review covers the main principles of LGS therapy, analyzes the most common antiepileptic drugs used in LGS, and describes clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs in LGS. The article contains a detailed algorithm for the treatment of LGS, based on international guidelines and expert opinions.