title: [Efficacy of Levetiracetam as an Add-on Therapy in Children with Localization-related Epilepsy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) in children with localization-related epilepsy, we performed a retrospective study in our hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the cases of 70 pediatric patients (mean age, 9.4 years, range 4-15 years) who had undergone LEV add-on therapy between October 2010 and September 2014. The subjects were followed for a period of 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean starting dose was 9.9 mg/kg/day, and the mean final dose was 39.9 mg/kg/day. The LEV continuation rate was estimated to be 87%. The responder rate (based on ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency) was 57%. Twenty-four of the 70 patients experienced side effects, such as drowsiness, fatigue, and aggressiveness. Although most of the adverse events were mild and tolerable, it was necessary to discontinue the medication in four patients. We evaluated the effects of gender, age, duration of illness, secondarily generalized seizure, baseline seizure frequency, MRI abnormality, number of previously administered drugs, number of concomitant drugs, and final dose. MRI abnormality and final dose of LEV had a statistically significant influence on the efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LEV can be used as an effective and safe add-on treatment in children with localization-related epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enoki
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okanishi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam