Response of levetiracetam in neonatal seizures.
OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical response to levetiracetam (LEV) in neonatal seizure management in intensive care unit.


METHODS
Medical records of neonates who received LEV from January 2009 to August 2014 were reviewed. Their demographic data, clinical characteristics, etiology, seizures, electroencephalograms, response to treatment and outcome were noted. Literature review of use of LEV in neonates were also performed via PubMed and EMBASE with keywords - "neonates", "seizures", "epilepsy" and "LEV" up to Sep 2014 and retrieved the publications. The response rate to LEV was compared.


RESULTS
Twelve neonates were identified during the study period. All patients received phenobarbitone loading prior to consideration of LEV. Seven (58%) and nine (75%) achieved seizure freedom 24 h and 72 h after LEV was added, both clinically and electrographically. No serious adverse effects were associated with LEV use. From the literature, there are total 144 neonates reported to have used LEV. The overall results suggested that LEV could control up to 90% of neonatal seizures.


CONCLUSIONS
LEV was found to be relatively safe and efficacious in treating neonatal seizures, but might not work well in the most severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
Maggie Lo-Yee Yau, Eva Lai-Wah Fung, Pak Cheung Ng, Department of Paediatrics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Maggie Lo-Yee
ML
Yau
Maggie Lo-Yee Yau, Eva Lai-Wah Fung, Pak Cheung Ng, Department of Paediatrics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Eva Lai-Wah
EL
Fung
Maggie Lo-Yee Yau, Eva Lai-Wah Fung, Pak Cheung Ng, Department of Paediatrics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Pak Cheung
PC
Ng
Levetiracetam; Neonates; Phenobarbitone; Seizures