title: Levetiracetam efficacy in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Presentation of a case.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is one of the most severe epileptic encephalopathies of childhood, characterized by electro-clinical triad of generalized spike-wave activity, slow (POL) in the electroencephalogram (EEG), multiple types of seizures and development delay. This paper intends to describe the syndrome in a patient with a history of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and a good response to treatment with levetiracetam (LEV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study on the development of a 3 year old child with intrauterine asphyxia, multiorgan failure, metabolic acidosis, hypovolemic shock, and seizures with cerebral oedema, who developed a West syndrome, resistant to drug treatment. The semiology of seizures progressively changed to generalized episodes of hypertonia and myoclonus, with slow spike-wave electroencephalographic activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the diagnosis of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome the patient was treated with levetiracetam, showing a substantial improvement in the cognitive sphere, in the control of seizures, and electroencephalographic findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is one of the most severe epileptic syndromes in paediatric patients. Levetiracetam can help cognitive improvement, and contribute to seizure control in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Infanta Elena, Valdemoro, Madrid, España. antoniodnegrillo@yahoo.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díaz Negrillo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martín Del Valle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González Salaices
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prieto Jurczynska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carneado Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000188:drug therapy*; D065768:Lennox Gastaut Syndrome; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam