title: Levetiracetam in continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep syndrome.
abstract: We investigated the clinical characteristics of children with continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep syndrome and their treatment response to levetiracetam. Five boys and one girl, diagnosed with epilepsy with continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep syndrome, were enrolled. Their clinical characteristics, including neuroimaging findings, were reviewed. The signs related to continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep included increased seizure frequency (6/6), impaired responsiveness (3/6), and psychomotor regression (2/6). Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed lissencephaly in one patient, and porencephaly of the left hemisphere in another. The number of antiepileptic drugs before the use of levetiracetam was 0-4 (mean +/- SD, 2.3 +/- 1.5). Five of 6 children demonstrated a good response to levetiracetam, whereas 2 (40%) underwent a relapse of electrical status epilepticus during sleep pattern on electroencephalograms 4 and 5 months after clinical improvement. Both were 5 years old. The most common presenting sign in children with continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep syndrome is increasing seizure frequency. Levetiracetam is effective in treating children with continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep syndrome. However, the relapse rate of continuous spike waves during slow-wave sleep syndrome remains high in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shi-Bing
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Chin
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Pi-Chuan
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Wang-Tso
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam