Kevin Farrell
FRCPC, MBChB, FRCPE
Investigator Emeritus, BC Children's Hospital
Approximately 5% of children with epilepsy develop a state characterized by frequent epileptic discharges and a halt in mental development. These children rarely respond to conventional antiepileptic drugs, eventually become mentally retarded and are unable to live independently as adults or achieve competitive employment. Epileptic encephalopathy has been identified by the Canadian Pediatric Epilepsy Network as a major research focus and we have partnered with researchers in Ottawa and Calgary in the development of a study of non-convulsive status epilepticus in children with epileptic encephalopathy.
Abbott FS, Chang T, Farrell K. Valproic acid analogues: glutathione dependent metabolism and mechanisms of toxicity. CIHR funded October 2005 - September 2010, $578,890. Valproic acid is a very effective broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug whose use in children is complicated by the risk of liver failure, particularly in the very young child. We have demonstrated in animal and human studies that reactive oxygen species play a role in the toxicity of valproic acid and that glutathione has a protective effect. We are exploring further the mechanisms of valproate toxicity in children and looking at the effect of drug interactions in children on reactive oxygen species.
Carmant L, Weiss S, Whiting S, Wirrell E, Dooley J. A randomized double blind trial of add-on flunarizine to prevent the cognitive deterioration associated with infantile spasms. CIHR funded April 2002 - Mar 2006, $476,480. This multicentre clinical trial examines the influence of a calcium channel blocker on the markedly delayed cognitive development that occurs in 90% of children with infantile spasm. The delayed development in these children is believed to be a consequence of the frequent epileptic discharges, and flunarazine has been demonstrated to have a protective effect in animal models.
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