Efficacy of levetiracetam in pharmacoresistant continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) in continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS). Despite first description dates back to 1971, no agreement exists about CSWS treatment. The condition is rare and controlled clinical trials are very difficult to perform, so the reports about efficacy of different drugs are anecdotal.


METHODS
We introduced LEV in three children affected by symptomatic focal epilepsy and pharmacoresistant CSWS and evaluated clinical, neuropsychological and electroencephalographic outcome.


RESULTS
Two cases responded completely, one case showed only a mild reduction of spikes and waves during slow sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
Even if our report is anecdotal, LEV expands the spectrum of antiepileptic drugs that can be used for the treatment of CSWS. LEV efficacy should be confirmed in larger series.
Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, C. Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy. pippo.capovilla@libero.it
G
G
Capovilla
F
F
Beccaria
S
S
Cagdas
A
A
Montagnini
R
R
Segala
D
D
Paganelli
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010889:Piracetam