Quality of life and seizure control in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy treated with levetiracetam monotherapy: preliminary data of an open-label study.
The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of levetiracetam monotherapy on seizure control, quality of life and neurocognitive performance in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy. We present here preliminary data from 18 patients with follow-up of 6 months. We evaluated seizure frequency at baseline. We used administered Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), Barthel index (BI), QOLIE 31P (V2), EORTC QLQ-C30 and Adverse Events Profile. After 6 months, 16 patients were seizure free (88.9%), 2 (11.1%) had reduction in seizure frequency >50%. Compared to baseline, we observed a worsening of performance (KPS p = 0.011; BI = 0.008) and global lower cognitive performance (MMSE p = 0.011); distress related to seizure frequency (p = 0.003) and medication effects (p = 0.046) were significantly lower. Levetiracetam caused mild and reversible side effects. These preliminary data on LEV monotherapy in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy show that this antiepileptic drug is efficacious and well tolerated.
Department of Neuroscience and Cervical-Facial Pathology, Center for Tumor-Related Epilepsy, National Institute for Cancer 'Regina Elena', Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
Loredana
L
Dinapoli
Marta
M
Maschio
Bruno
B
Jandolo
Alessandra
A
Fabi
Andrea
A
Pace
Francesca
F
Sperati
Paola
P
Muti
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam