title: Retention rates of levetiraceram in Chinese children and adolescents with epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Levetiracetam (Lev) is a new antiepileptic drugs, proved to be effective and tolerance in regulatory trials, but these controlled trials do not always predict how useful a drug will be in day to day clinical practice, Retention rates can provide a better indication of efficacy and tolerability in everyday use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 124 patients with more than 3 months disease course were enrolled in the study from June 2007 to December 2007. The LEV dose ranged from 10 to 60 mg/kg per day. Follow up visit were performed at 6 months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months, and treatment effects, adverse effects were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LEV retention rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 93.5% (116/124), 84.7% (105/124), 65.3% (81/124), and 58.9% (73/124), respectively. The predominant causes of withdrawal were lack of efficacy (62.7%) and serious adverse effects (17.6%). In addition, 48.6% (51/105), 60.5% (49/81) and 72.6% (53/73) patients were seizure-free for 12 months, 24 months and 36 months, respectively. In this study, 75 (60.5%) patients experienced at least one side effect. The most common side effects observed were irritability 38.7% (29/75), somnolence 17.3% (13/75), learning disability 16.0% (12/75), anorexia 17.3% (13/75), somnipathy 13.3% (10/75), and abnormal behavior 13.3% (10/75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed the high retention rate of LEV in Chinese children and adolescents with epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Sciences and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400014, China.
authors.forename: Xue-fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Sciences and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400014, China.
authors.forename: Yu-xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Sciences and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400014, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Sciences and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, 400014, China. Electronic address: xiaolongwl@163.com.
authors.forename: Nong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: Chinese children and adolescent with epilepsy; Efficacy; Levetiraceram; Retention rate; Side effects