title: Effectiveness of intravenous levetiracetam as an adjunctive treatment in pediatric refractory status epilepticus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intravenous levetiracetam (LEV) has been shown to be effective and safe in treating adults with refractory status epilepticus (SE). We sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of intravenous LEV for pediatric patients with refractory SE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective medical-record review of pediatric patients who were treated with intravenous LEV for refractory SE. Clinical information regarding age, sex, seizure type, and underlying neurological status was collected. We evaluated other anticonvulsants that were used prior to administration of intravenous LEV and assessed loading dose, response to treatment, and any adverse events from intravenous LEV administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients (8 boys and 6 girls) received intravenous LEV for the treatment of refractory SE. The mean age of the patients was 4.4 ± 5.5 years (range, 4 days to 14.6 years). Ten of the patients were neurologically healthy prior to the refractory SE, and the other 4 had been previously diagnosed with epilepsy. The mean loading dose of intravenous LEV was 26 ± 4.6 mg/kg (range, 20-30 mg/kg). Seizure termination occurred in 6 (43%) of the 14 patients. In particular, 4 (57%) of the 7 patients younger than 2 years showed seizure termination. No immediate adverse events occurred during or after infusions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study demonstrated that the adjunctive use of intravenous LEV was effective and well tolerated in pediatric patients with refractory SE, even in patients younger than 2 years. Intravenous LEV should be considered as an effective and safe treatment option for refractory SE in pediatric patients.
authors: From the *Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do; and †Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, ‡Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children's Hospital; and §Department of Pediatrics, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jon Soo
authors: JS
authors: Kim
authors: Jeong Ho
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Hye Won
authors: HW
authors: Ryu
authors: Byung Chan
authors: BC
authors: Lim
authors: Hee
authors: H
authors: Hwang
authors: Jong-Hee
authors: JH
authors: Chae
authors: Jieun
authors: J
authors: Choi
authors: Ki Joong
authors: KJ
authors: Kim
authors: Yong Seung
authors: YS
authors: Hwang
authors: Hunmin
authors: H
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam