A retrospective analysis of memantine use in a pediatric neurology clinic

Background: Memantine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) antagonist, approved for dementia, but also studied in pediatric autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: We reviewed children treated with memantine in a single-centre pediatric neurology clinic. Clinical data extracted included age, sex, weight, clinical history, reason for memantine prescription, period of treatment trial and dosage, treatment response, side effects, and concomitant medications. Results: Eight patients met inclusion criteria with diagnoses including developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, focal epilepsy, ASD, ADHD. Four reported clear cognitive improvement, though two of these started other concurrent treatments at the time of memantine initiation. One of three patients with poorly-controlled epilepsy, a girl with a GRIN2A variant of uncertain significance, had a clear reduction in seizure frequency. No serious adverse events were noted. Conclusions: Memantine is generally well-tolerated in children, and may have potential benefit for a broad range of pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders. (C) 2021 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, is generally well-tolerated in children and may have potential benefit for a broad range of pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders. In a single-center pediatric neurology clinic, 8 children were treated with memantine for conditions including developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, ASD, and ADHD. The study found clear cognitive improvement in some patients and a reduction in seizure frequency in a girl with a GRIN2A variant of uncertain significance.