Epilepsy
Study register · detail Systematische Review + Meta-Analyse · Epilepsy · 2023

Long-term efficacy and adverse effects of cannabidiol in adjuvant treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mixed GRADE High 19 citations
Samplek = 50 Studien
n = 4.791 Pat.
Duration12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 144 weeks
EndpointResponder rate
Blindingunklar
DesignSystematische Review + Meta-Analyse
Cannabinoidcbd
Key finding

CBD reduces seizure frequency in ~40% of patients in the short term, but efficacy declines in the long term and adverse events increase.

Summary

SR+MA across k=50 studies (n=4.791) on CBD in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE); responder rate (≥50% seizure reduction) at 12 weeks: 0,40 [95% CI 0,36–0,45], at 24 weeks: 0,39 [0,34–0,44]; seizure freedom rate 0,04 [0,03–0,06]; rate of serious adverse events at 12 weeks 0,15 [0,09–0,21]. Higher doses and more concomitant ASMs increase adverse events without a gain in efficacy.

P
PopulationPatients with drug-resistant epilepsy (Drug-Resistant Epilepsy, DRE), pooled n=4791
I
InterventionCannabidiol (CBD) as add-on therapy to existing antiepileptic drugs, various dosages, long-term treatment
O
OutcomeResponder rate (≥50% seizure reduction) at 12 weeks: 0,40 [0,36; 0,45]; seizure freedom rate: 0,04 [0,03; 0,06]; proportion of adverse events at 12 weeks: 0,72 [0,61; 0,83]; serious adverse events at 12 weeks: 0,15 [0,09; 0,21]
Confidence in the evidence
High

The highest of four GRADE levels, the effect estimate is very reliable.

Quality profile
Sample size
Blinding
Effect size Mixed
Citations / year
Authors
Liu S, He Z, Li J.
DOI 10.1177/17562864231207755
Design: Systematische Review + Meta-Analyse
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Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic brain diseases. Almost one-third of patients have drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Cannabidiol is being considered as a potential novel drug for treating DRE.<h4>Objectives</h4>To investigate long-term efficacy and safety of cannabidiol in treatment of DRE and the differences in cannabidiol treatment among patients with different characteristics.<h4>Design</h4>Systematic review and meta-analysis.<h4>Data sources and methods</h4>Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched for literature. RevMan5.4 was used for meta-analysis. The Intention-to-treat set and the random effect were used as the main analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age, dose, concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs), epilepsy syndromes, and study designs.<h4>Results</h4>Fifty studies were included in this systematic review. A total of 4791 participants were collected. The responder rates (seizure frequency reduced at least 50%) at 12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-, and 144-week were 0.40 [0.36, 0.45], 0.39 [0.34, 0.44], 0.37 [0.30, 0.44], 0.27 [0.17, 0.37], 0.22 [0.14, 0.30], and 0.38 [0.23, 0.53]. Seizure-free rates were 0.04 [0.03, 0.06], 0.04 [0.03, 0.05], 0.03 [0.02, 0.05], 0.03 [0.02, 0.03], 0.02 [0.01, 0.03], and 0.04 [0.01, 0.06]. Proportion of adverse events were 0.72 [0.61, 0.83], 0.62 [0.42, 0.81], 0.60 [0.41, 0.79], 0.35 [0.14, 0.56], 0.83 [0.75, 0.90], and 0.96 [0.94, 0.99]. The pooled 12-, 24-, 48-, 96-, and 144-week proportion of serious adverse events were 0.15 [0.09, 0.21], 0.23 [0.14, 0.31], 0.10 [0.06, 0.15], 0.31 [0.24, 0.38], and 0.40 [0.35, 0.45]. Subgroup analyses showed that there was no significant difference on efficacy and safety among age subgroups and epilepsy syndromes subgroups. For most periods, there were no significant difference on efficacy among subgroups of dose and concomitant ASMs. However, higher doses and more concomitant ASMs were associated with higher proportion of adverse events.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Cannabidiol treatment of DRE has stable efficacy and fewer adverse events in early period. Long-term use may have decreased efficacy and increased adverse events. Dose escalation may not increase efficacy, but may increase adverse events. Furthermore, cannabidiol use may reduce dosage of other ASMs without reducing efficacy, thereby reducing adverse effects. Cannabidiol may have similar effects in various epilepsy syndromes.<h4>Trial registration</h4>PROSPERO (CRD42022351250).

The impediment to action advances action. — Marcus Aurelius