Dravet Syndrome Treatment Involves Ayurveda Medications and Suppressants as Add-On Treatment for Seizures Associated With the Condition

 

Dravet syndrome is an extreme form of childhood epilepsy usually characterized by recurrent, prolonged seizures caused by unusually high body temperature (hypothermia). This condition can be life-threatening and even lethal in extreme cases. Unlike other forms of childhood epilepsy, Dravet syndrome is not well understood, and there is no preventive Dravet syndrome treatment or cure. What is known is that patients with Dravet Syndrome tend to experience slower development than those without the syndrome and experience more frequent and fewer seizures.

Dravet syndrome occurs in three variants - sensorineural, mixed, and generalized tonic clonic seizures. In sensorineural syndrome, the generalized tonic clonic seizure is often prolonged and the patients find it difficult to maintain eye contact. Patients suffering with this type of syndrome should undergouropathic therapy to avoid wasting of fluids in the body and to prevent the occurrence of seizures. In the patients of this condition who do not respond well to neurostimulation, cisapride (Imodium) is often recommended.

In the patients suffering from the mixed form of the syndrome, one or more focal symptoms occur and they can be either retinal detachment myoneuraldehyde accumulation, or photoreceptor cell death. The first few weeks of life may be a period of high stress due to low birth weight and protein and iron deficiency. In such cases, the generalized seizure is often prolonged, which can aggravate the disorder. Myoneuraldehyde buildup can be due to failure of liver metabolism or dehydration. Cyclosporine is an effective Dravet syndrome treatment as it prevents the buildup of free radicals in the body. Photoreceptor cell death is caused by uncontrolled protein breakdown and it is treated with drugs such as Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone or lhrisine.

The Ayurveda treatment of Dravet syndrome is aimed at treating the basic pathology of the disease and preventing or reducing further seizures. Medicines used are: Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Triphala-Guggulu, Medohar Guggulu, Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Qadha, and others. Recently, various companies have focused on developing effective therapies for the condition. For instance, in December 2020, Zogenix, a developer of therapeutic solutions for rare diseases, received European Commission approval for Fintepla (fenfluramine) as an add-on treatment for seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in patients ages 2 and older. With this decision, Zogenix will be able to market Fintepla in all European Union (EU) member states, plus the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. The first EU launch is planned for Germany in early 2021.

Dravet syndrome is more common in girls than in boys. Dravet syndrome treatment in this case should start in early infancy. Early initiation of treatment reduces the probability of long-term complications. Ayurveda medicines can be given along with various other medicines in order to prevent or reduce the convulsions and consequent seizures associated with this condition. It is important to start treatment for this condition in order to prevent permanent damage to the heart and to prevent death from complications of this condition. It has been found that Dravet syndrome is often prolonged and tends to become disabling for the children. A majority of the children affected by this condition have become bedridden owing to the fact that they are unable to keep themselves awake for the duration of the sessions with the ophthalmologist. Children affected with this syndrome require regular monitoring of their health and they often need frequent replacement of fluids.