title: [Successful treatment of epilepsy and circadian rhythm disturbance with levetiracetam in a patient with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA)].
abstract: We report a 21-year-old male patient with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) showing progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME), who responded to levetiracetam (LEV) at an initial dose of 1,000 mg/day. The patient developed epilepsy at the age of 10 years, and also showed intellectual regression. Various antiepileptic drugs showed no effects on generalized tonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, and myoclonus. Addition of LEV (1,000 mg/day) led to the reduction of myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures, and improved the EEG and sleep-wake rhythm. He had a better appetite and gain weight. It is suggested that LEV may improve quality of life in patients with DRPLA, in addition to reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy,  Japanese Red Cross Tokushima Hinomine Rehabilitation Center for People with Disabilities, Komatsujima, Tokushima..
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimakawa
authors.forename: Shigeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satomura
authors.forename: Etsuo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D020191:Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam