title: [Experience with levetiracetam in the treatment of childhood refractory epilepsy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In young children presenting drug-resistant epilepsy, the number of approved antiepileptic drugs is limited. Levetiracetam (LEV) is one of the most recent antiepileptic drugs (AED) introduced on the market and data on its effectiveness and tolerance in children are scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective of this retrospective study was to report our experience with the use of levetiracetam as an adjuvant therapy in a population of 42 children presenting a drug-resistant epilepsy. The study was conducted over a 5-year-period (from 1 January 2004 to 30 June 2007).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' mean age was 10.8 years (range, 2.1-19 years). The mean duration of epilepsy was 6.6 years (range, 1.5-19 years). After the administration of LEV, 10 patients (23.8%) became seizure-free and 16 (38.1%) had more than 50% seizure reduction. A reduction of less than 50% was observed in 13 patients (31%). Three patients (7.1%) presented an increase in seizure frequency. The effectiveness of LEV was similar in partial and generalized epilepsy. LEV was well tolerated by these patients. The main adverse effects were anorexia, asthenia, and behavioral disorders, and drowsiness was encountered in 17% of the patients. All persistent adverse events were noted. In children under 4 years of age, LEV was particularly well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the effectiveness and tolerance of LEV used as an adjuvant therapy in children presenting drug-resistant epilepsy, particularly in the very young ones.
authors.affiliation: Service de neuropédiatrie, université de Picardie-Jules-Verne, hôpital Nord, CHU d'Amiens, place Victor-Pauchet, 80054 Amiens cedex 1, France. doumbia_medic@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doumbia-Ouattara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bourel-Ponchel
authors.forename: A-G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Le Moing
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Querne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delignières
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Broca
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berquin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam