title: Levetiracetam in brain ischemia: clinical implications in neuroprotection and prevention of post-stroke epilepsy.
abstract: Several new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been introduced for clinical use recently. These new AEDs, like the classic AEDs, target multiple cellular sites both pre- and postsynaptically. The use of AEDs as a possible neuroprotective strategy in brain ischemia is receiving increasing attention and the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam, a 2S-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidiny1) butanamide, belonging to the pyrrolidone family, could have a crucial role in regulation of epileptogenesis and neuroprotection. Recent observations suggest that levetiracetam is both safe and effective against post-stroke seizures. In this review, the potential neuroprotective role in brain ischemia and the therapeutic implications of levetiracetam in post-stroke epilepsy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, St. Anna Hospital, via Napoleona 60, Como, Italy. vincenzobelcastro@libero.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Belcastro
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierguidi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tambasco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam