Topiramate for Tourette's syndrome in children: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of topiramate for children with Tourette syndrome. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials evaluating topiramate for children with Tourette syndrome were identified from the Cochrane library, PubMed, Cochrane Central, Embase, CBM, CNKI, VIP, WANG FANG database, and relevant reference lists. Two reviewers independently selected trials, assessed trial quality, and extracted the data. Disagreement was resolved by discussion. Quality assessment referred to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 5.0.1.). RESULTS: Fourteen trials involving 1003 patients were included, of which 720 cases were male (71.8%). Ages were 2 to 17 years old. The general quality of included randomized controlled trials was poor. All trials were positive drug-controlled (12 randomized controlled trials used haloperidol as control, 2 used tiapride). The follow-up period was from 20 days to 12 months. Meta-analysis of 3 trials (n = 207), in which tics symptoms control was assessed by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, suggested that there was significant difference in the mean change of Yale Global Tic Severity Scale score during the treatment period (mean difference = -7.74, 95% CI [-10.49, -4.99], I(2) = 0) between topiramate and control groups. Meta-analysis of 9 trials (n = 668) evaluating tics symptoms control ≥ 50% suggested that there was no significant difference in reduction of tics between topiramate and control group during the treatment period (relative ratio = 1.36, 95% CI [0.90, 2.06], I(2) = 0). Adverse events were reported in 13 trials. Drowsiness (3.3-16%), loss of appetite (4-16.7%), cognitive dysfunction (7.89-12.5%), and weight loss (6-10.5%) were common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence is promising but not yet sufficient to support the routine use of topiramate for Tourette syndrome in children due to low quality of the study designs. It deserves to confirm in further high-quality, placebo-controlled trials.