title: Levetiracetam in newly diagnosed late-onset post-stroke seizures: a prospective observational study.
abstract: Levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy was investigated in 35 patients (pts) (16M/19F, 71.9+/-7.3 years of age) with late-onset post-stroke seizures (i.e. seizures occurring at least 2 weeks after an ischemic stroke) in a prospective open-label study. Overall, 27 pts (77.1%) achieved a condition of seizure freedom (defined as 1 year without seizures): 19 (54.3%) at a daily LEV dose of 1000mg, 7 (20.0%) at 1500mg, 1 (2.8%) at 2000mg. Four pts (11.4%) discontinued the drug because of intolerable side effects (drowsiness associated to gait disturbance in 1 pt, and aggressive behaviour in the remaining 3 pts); 3 pts were unresponsive at a dose of 3000mg, and 1 pt was lost at follow-up. These observations suggest that LEV exhibits safety and efficacy profiles which make it an optimal candidate as a first-choice drug against post-stroke seizures.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Belcastro
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Autuori
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierguidi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calabresi
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parnetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020234:Gait Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam