Incidence of seizures after treatment completion and practice Patterns of anti-convulsant therapy in supratentorial brain tumors: an observational study

Primary brain tumors denote tumors originating inside the brain substance. Patients with primary brain tumors often develop seizures during diagnosis orduring the course ofthe disease. Antiepileptic drugs (AED) are used to reduce the risk of the development of seizures, both in patients with a previous history of seizures or without prior history (as prophylaxis). There are no well-established guidelines regarding the appropriate use of AEDs, choice of drugs, or duration of use. The practice pattern of AED is highly variable across different institutions. The most common AED in India (as obtained from a national survey) and also in our institution include levetiracetam. Other commonly used AEDs include phenytoin, brivaracetam, clobazam, and carbamazepine. Since a majority of patients are referred to our tertiary care center following the diagnosis of a brain tumor or after surgery, they are already on AEDs as per the preference of the primary physician. In our institution, we stop AED once the patient is free from any seizures for a duration of seizures. In the current observational study, we will include patients with primary brain tumors who have completed standard treatment for their disease. Patients accrued in the study will be followed up for a duration of 3 years, with brief interviews scheduled to record the use of AED and any seizure episodes. No additional visits are required for the current study, with the information collected during follow-up visits as per standard institutional practice. The study will have no influence on the treatment or use of AEDs (either drugs, duration, or discontinuation). Different clinical characteristics will be analyzed to understand the factors influencing the occurrence of seizures after treatment completion.