title: The efficacy, tolerability and safety of levetiracetam therapy in a pediatric population.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam monotherapy in a pediatric population.
  
  
  
  A retrospective review was performed of the charts of 351 consecutive children who were 6 months to 18 years of age and were treated with levetiracetam. Levetiracetam monotherapy was initiated and dosed to efficacy or unacceptable side effects, with a range of 10-112 mg/kg/day. Electroencephalographic examination was performed at pre-treatment and 12th months in the post-treatment period. Following the commencement of levetiracetam treatment, the retention rate at 3, 6 and 12 months was 100%, 75% and 57%, respectively.
  
  
  
  The monotherapy retention rate at 3 and 12 months following the commencement of levetiracetam treatment was (231/351, 66%), and (126/200, 63%) respectively. A total of 165 (47%) patients had idiopathic epilepsy and 186 patients (53%) had symptomatic-cryptogenic epilepsy. The >90% seizure reduction rate was 65%, and the 50-90% seizure reduction rate was 14% at the 3rd month of treatment. Similarly, the >90% seizure reduction rate was 63%, and the 50-90% seizure reduction rate was 15% at the 12th month of treatment. EEG improvement (normalization of EEG) was observed in 65 (47%) patients. Overall, 61 (17%) patients showed adverse events. The most reported side effects were irritability (67%), hyperactivity (8%), somnolence (6%), behavioral disorders (5%), restlessness (5%), increased seizure frequency (3%), enuresis (2%), headache (2%) and attempted suicide (2%).
  
  
  
  The retrospective study of 231 consecutive pediatric patients to confirm that levetiracetam is effective as initial monotherapy for different types of seizures and/or epilepsy syndromes. However there is still a need for well-designed trials to justify the widespread use of levetiracetam monotherapy in children with specific epilepsy syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tekgül
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey. Electronic address: pinargencpinar@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gencpinar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Çavuşoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihal Olgaç
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Dündar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: Children; Epilepsy; Levetiracetam; Retention rate