title: [Therapeutic effect of levetiracetam add-on treatment for frontal lobe epilepsy in 105 children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the changes in 24-hour video electroencephalogram (EEG) and epileptic attacks after levetiracetam add-on therapy in children with frontal lobe epilepsy and epileptiform discharges.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was carried out in 105 children with the frontal lobe epilepsy who received long-term treatment with 1 or 2 types of antiepileptic drug but still with epileptiform discharges in ECG. Levetiracetam add-on therapy was administered at the initial daily dose of 20 mg/kg (given in 2 doses) for 2 weeks followed by an increase of the dose to 30 mg/kg with a maintenance dose of 30-40 mg/kg. The changes in seizure attacks and 24-hour video-EEG monitoring after a 6-month therapy were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levetiracetam add-on therapy reduced epileptiform discharges in 55 children (52.3%) and resulted in significant changes in EEG (P<0.05). Of the 77 children with clinical seizures, complete seizure control was achieved in 12 cases after the therapy, and the seizure attacks were reduced in 28 cases, showing a total response rate of 51.9%; the reduction in seizure attacks was positively correlated with EEG improvement (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levetiracetam add-on therapy can decrease epileptiform discharges in EEG and reduce clinical seizure attacks in children with frontal lobe epilepsy with only mild adverse reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, 510080, Guangdong, China. E-mail: Baby20050218@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiongxiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Muqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhuo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam