First Korean study of CBD for severe childhood epilepsy shows promise
In the first Korean study of CBD for childhood epilepsy, about one-third of patients with Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome achieved at least 50% seizure reduction at 3 months.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 34 Lennox-Gastaut and 10 Dravet syndrome patients (ages 1-16), CBD at 10 mg/kg/day produced 50%+ seizure reduction in 32.3% of LGS patients at 3 months (declining to 20.6% at 6 months) and 30% of DS patients at 3 months (20% at 6 months). Adverse events occurred in 36.3% of patients, mostly gastrointestinal, with no life-threatening events.
Key Numbers
44 patients (34 LGS, 10 DS); 50%+ seizure reduction in 32.3% of LGS at 3 months, 20.6% at 6 months; adverse events in 36.3%, mostly GI; no life-threatening events.
How They Did This
Retrospective study of 44 pediatric patients (34 LGS, 10 DS) treated with oral CBD at 10 mg/kg/day, evaluated at 3 and 6 months via caregiver reporting, EEG, and blood tests.
Why This Research Matters
This is the first study of pharmaceutical CBD for epilepsy conducted in Korea, extending the evidence base for CBD in severe childhood epilepsy syndromes beyond Western populations.
The Bigger Picture
These results are broadly consistent with the landmark trials that led to FDA approval of Epidiolex (CBD) for these conditions, suggesting similar efficacy across populations.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective design; small sample especially for Dravet syndrome (n=10); reliance on caregiver-reported seizure counts; efficacy appeared to decrease from 3 to 6 months; no control group.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why did response rates decline between 3 and 6 months?
- ?Would higher doses improve outcomes, and at what cost in side effects?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 32.3% of LGS patients achieved 50%+ seizure reduction at 3 months
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: real-world clinical data from 44 patients but retrospective, uncontrolled, and small Dravet group.
- Study Age:
- Published 2020.
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol for Treating Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome in Korea.
- Published In:
- Journal of Korean medical science, 35(50), e427 (2020)
- Authors:
- Koo, Chung Mo(2), Kim, Se Hee(2), Lee, Joon Soo(2), Park, Byung Joo, Lee, Hae Kook, Kim, Heung Dong, Kang, Hoon Chul
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02654
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How effective was CBD for these epilepsy syndromes?
About one-third of Lennox-Gastaut patients and 30% of Dravet patients achieved at least 50% seizure reduction at 3 months, though response rates decreased by 6 months.
Were there serious side effects?
No life-threatening adverse events were reported. Side effects occurred in 36.3% of patients and were mostly gastrointestinal (nausea, diarrhea).
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02654APA
Koo, Chung Mo; Kim, Se Hee; Lee, Joon Soo; Park, Byung Joo; Lee, Hae Kook; Kim, Heung Dong; Kang, Hoon Chul. (2020). Cannabidiol for Treating Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome in Korea.. Journal of Korean medical science, 35(50), e427. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e427
MLA
Koo, Chung Mo, et al. "Cannabidiol for Treating Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome in Korea.." Journal of Korean medical science, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e427
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol for Treating Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet ..." RTHC-02654. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/koo-2020-cannabidiol-for-treating-lennoxgastaut
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.