title: Open-label pilot study of levetiracetam (Keppra) for the treatment of chorea in Huntington's disease.
abstract: The objective of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and preliminary efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) in reducing chorea in Huntington's disease (HD) patients in a prospective open-label pilot study. Nine HD patients with chorea were treated with LEV in doses up to 3,000 mg/day for up to 48 days. The primary endpoint measure was the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) chorea subscore. The mean dose (+/-SD) of LEV at endpoint was 2,583.3 +/- 1,020.6 mg/day. Mean UHDRS chorea score decreased from 12.6 +/- 3.0 at baseline to 6.7 +/- 4.3 at endpoint (P = 0.01). There was no significant change in UHDRS total motor scores (38.8 +/- 11.4 at baseline and 33.6 +/- 26.7 at endpoint; P = 0.24). Somnolence contributed to a 33% drop-out rate, and 3 patients developed Parkinsonism. Results of this open label study suggest that LEV may be efficacious in reducing chorea in HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center and Department of Neurology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. tzesiewi@hsc.usf.edu
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zesiewicz
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Ramos
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam