title: The effect of levetiracetam on status epilepticus-induced neuronal death in the rat hippocampus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Levetiracetam has been reported to be well tolerated and effective in status epilepticus (SE) refractory to benzodiazepine. Because of little preclinical or clinical data concerning the outcomes of LEV in SE-induced neuronal death and vasogenic edema, we investigated the effect of LEV on SE-induced injury in comparison to diazepam (DZP), and valproate (VPA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hours after pilocarpine-induced SE, rats were given one of the following drugs; (1) DZP, (2) LEV, (3) VPA, (4) DZP+LEV, (5) DZP+VPA, and (6) DZP+oxiracetam. Three-four days after SE, neuronal damage and vasogenic edema were evaluated by Fluoro-Jade B (FJB) staining and serum-protein extravasation, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LEV (≥50 mg/kg) was effective to protect neuronal damage from SE in comparison to DZP and VPA. LEV as an add-on drug with DZP could not alleviate neuronal damage as compared to LEV alone. VPA (≥100 mg/kg) was effective to protect neuronal damage from SE, as compared to DZP. VPA as an add-on drug with DZP reduced neuronal damage, as compared to DZP alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that LEV may negatively interact with DZP, and be more effective to prevent SE-induced neuronal death as a first line drug than as a second line therapy after BDZ treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon 200-702, South Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Shin
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hea Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Ji-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hui-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yeong-In
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hong-Ki
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Tae-Cheon
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; C435731:fluoro jade; D010862:Pilocarpine; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D003975:Diazepam; D010889:Piracetam