[Experience with levetiracetam in childhood epilepsy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in children with drug resistant epilepsy from a retrospective study.


METHODS
We report the result of a study of 85 pediatric patients (mean 10.5 years, range: 1-24) with refractory generalized and focal epilepsy, who received levetiracetam as add-on treatment. The average duration of epilepsy was eight years, and the patient were treated with mean of 6.0 antiepileptic drugs before levetiracetam was introduced.


RESULTS
Ten patients (12%) became seizure-free, three (3%) responded with seizure reduction of more than 90%, 32 (38%) responded with seizure reduction of more than 50% following introduction of levetiracetam. No response to levetiracetam was reported in 34% (n: 29). Positive psychotropic effect was observed in 26 patient (30%). Mild to moderate side effects were reported in 11 patients (13%), consisting most frequently general behavioral changes, aggression, sleep disturbances, but they ceased after decreasing the dose of levetiracetam. Mental retardation was associated with poor response and associated with more side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Levetiracetam is a well tolerated new antiepileptic drug that may effectively improve seizures control as an add-on drug in resistant epilepsy in childhood with good tolerability.
Neuwirth
Magdolna
M
Magyar Református Egyház Bethesda Gyermekkórháza, Budapest. neuwirth.magda@bethesda.hu
Saracz
Judit
J
Hegyi
Márta
M
Paraicz
Eva
E
Kollár
Katalin
K
Móser
Judit
J
Rosdy
Beáta
B
Herczegfalvi
Agnes
A
Fogarasi
András
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam