title: Levetiracetam for seizures in children with brain tumors and other cancers.
abstract: Children with brain tumors and other cancers can suffer from seizures. Unfortunately, most antiepileptic therapies are metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) system. Levetiracetam, a newer anticonvulsant, does not undergo CYP metabolism and does not alter the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapy, antiemetics, and corticosteroids, which are metabolized by the liver. We studied 23 patients with cancer and seizures treated with levetiracetam. Over 95% of patients had fewer seizures, with 65.2% becoming seizure free; only one patient experienced an adverse reaction. Levetiracetam is effective and well tolerated in children with brain tumors and other cancers, who are often on multiple enzyme-inducing drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stanford University, California, USA. spartap@stanford.edu)
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Partap
authors.forename: Paul Graham
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam