title: Effect of antiepileptic agent, levetiracetam, on urodynamic parameters and neurogenic bladder overactivity in chronically paraplegic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of different levetiracetam (LEV) doses on urodynamic parameters in an animal model of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 female rats were studied. Of the 54 rats, 6 served as normal controls, and 48 underwent T10 spinal cord transection (SCT). Of the latter 48 rats, 12 were paraplegic controls, and the remaining 36 rats were divided into 3 equal subgroups that received LEV by way of a subcutaneous osmotic minipump at a dose of 17, 54, and 108 mg/kg daily, respectively. The paraplegic control and treatment groups were further subdivided (n = 6), and cystometry was performed at 3 and 4 weeks after SCT, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All paraplegic controls developed NDO, with spontaneous contractions. At 3 and 4 weeks after SCT, the mean frequency of the contractions was 1.6 +/- 0.3/min and 1.7 +/- 0.2/min. The contraction amplitude and bladder capacity were not significantly different. After 1 week of LEV treatment, these urodynamic parameters improved significantly in a dose-dependent manner, and the changes were more striking at 2 weeks. At a LEV dosage of 17, 54, and 108 mg/kg, respectively, the NDO frequency increased from 1.7 +/- 0.3 to 0.7 +/- 0.2 contractions/min (P = .01), 0.48 +/- 0.16 contractions/min (P = .009), and 0.5 +/- 0.17 contractions/min (P = .01). The bladder capacity increased from 0.51 +/- 0.1 mL to 1.5 +/- 0.2 mL (P = .0001), 2.5 +/- 1.7 mL (P = .006), and 2.6 +/- 0.3 mL (P = .0003), and the micturition pressure improved from 105.8 +/- 6.9 to 73.8 +/- 6.8 cm H(2)O (P = .01), 58.6 +/- 8.9 cm H(2)O (P = .006), and 49.7 +/- 8.9 cm H(2)O (P = .002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study have shown that LEV is an effective treatment of NDO after SCT in rats. It might prove to be a novel, alternative therapeutic approach to NDO. The follow-up of these experimental results with a clinical trial is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Ehab A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Elzayat
authors.forename: Lysanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campeau
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karsenty
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blok
authors.forename: Ante L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Padjen
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corcos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam