title: Levetiracetam in porphyric status epilepticus: a case report.
abstract: Status epilepticus in patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) are difficult to treat. In this report the author describes a patient with AIP and status epilepticus who was successfully treated with a combination of intravenous magnesium and levetiracetam. This case and the limited experience reported in the literature show that it is probably safe to administer levetiracetam in patients with AIP; however, its role in the treatment of status epilepticus deserves further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-7025, USA. zaatrehm@glial.med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Megdad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zaatreh
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017118:Porphyria, Acute Intermittent / Q000150:complications*; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008274:Magnesium; D010889:Piracetam