title: Efficacy of levetiracetam in electrical status epilepticus during sleep of children: a multicenter experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electrical status epilepticus during sleep is characterized by epilepsy, a specific electroencephalographic pattern, and neuropsychological impairment. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam in treating children with electrical status epilepticus during sleep.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, retrospective, open-label study enrolled 73 children (mean age: 8 years) affected by electrical status epilepticus during sleep. The efficacy was rated according to the seizure frequency and electroencephalography response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a mean treatment period of 19 months (range: 6 to 24 months), 33 (63.5%) of 52 patients became seizure-free or had experienced remarkable reduction in seizures. The electrical status epilepticus of 41 (56.2%) of 73 patients disappeared off their electroencephalography. The electroencephalography efficacy of levetiracetam treatment was noted in the monotherapy (61.9%) and add-on (53.9%) groups. The clinical (67.7%) and electroencephalography (64.3%) response rates of the idiopathic group were better than those of the symptomatic group (57.1% and 45.2%, respectively). No patient discontinued the trial because of intolerability of side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levetiracetam is effective in individuals with electrical status epilepticus during sleep with tolerable side effects.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Xiao-Qiao
authors: XQ
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Wei-Na
authors: WN
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Zhi-Xian
authors: ZX
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Meng
authors: M
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Fang-Cheng
authors: FC
authors: Cai
authors: Department of Pediatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Shao-Ping
authors: SP
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Henan provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Tangshan Maternal and Health Care Hospital, Tangshan, China.
authors: Bao-Dong
authors: BD
authors: Pang
authors: Department of Neurology, Urumqi Children's Hospital, Urumqi, China.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zouliping21@hotmail.com.
authors: Li-Ping
authors: LP
authors: Zou
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: children; electrical status epilepticus during sleep; idiopathic; levetiracetam; symptomatic; treatment