title: Use of levetiracetam in a population of patients aged 65 years and older: a subset analysis of the KEEPER trial.
abstract: Levetiracetam (Keppra) was evaluated in a subset of patients aged >/=65 years (n=78) enrolled in a large (n=1030) open-label, phase IV trial (the KEEPER trial). A 4-week dose adjustment was followed by a 12-week evaluation period. An overall median reduction in partial seizures of 80.1% (n=65) was observed. Overall, 76.9% of patients were >/=50% responders, 56.9% were >/=75% responders, and 40.0% were 100% responders. Levetiracetam was well tolerated, with 42.3% of patients reporting one or more adverse events. A total of 15 patients (19.2%) experienced an adverse event that led to discontinuation. Somnolence (n=13,16.7%) and dizziness (n=7,9.0%) were the most commonly reported adverse events. Despite the limitations of the open-label study design, these data provide information regarding the use of levetiracetam as add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients >/=65 years of age, including those requiring concomitant medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Texas-Houston School of Medicine, 6431 Fannin Street, Suite 7.044, 77030, Houston, TX, USA. James.A.Ferrendelli@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferrendelli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leppik
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herbeuval
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magnus
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam