title: [Prophylactic efficacy of levetiracetam, valproate or phenobarbital on febrile convulsions in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study and compare the prophylatic efficacy of levetiracetam, valproate and phenobarbital on febrile convulsions in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty Wistar rats were randomly administered with levetiracetam (200 mg/kg), valproate (250 mg/kg), phenobarbital (30 mg/kg) or normal saline (8 ml/kg) for 5 days. Five days later, febrile convulsions were induced by hyperthermal bath (45 Celcius degree). The latency, duration and the severity of seizures were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all the three drug-treated groups, the latency was significantly prolonged, and the duration and the severity of seizures were notably reduced compared with the saline group (P<0.05 or 0.01). The phenobarbital group had the shortest duration of seizures and the least severe seizures among the three drug-treated groups. There were no significant differences between the levetiracetam and valproate groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous administration of levetiracetam, valproate or phenobarbital is effective in preventing recurrent febrile convulsions in rats. Phenobarbital appears to be more effective than levetiracetam and valproate. There were no significant differences in the prophylactic efficacy between levetiracetam and valproate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Si-Xiu
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D012008:Recurrence; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010634:Phenobarbital; D010889:Piracetam