title: Intravenous levetiracetam in critically ill children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To report the effectiveness and safety of intravenous (IV) levetiracetam (LEV) in the treatment of critically ill children with acute repetitive seizures and status epilepticus (SE) in a children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed data from children treated with IV LEV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 108 children was 69.39 ± 46.14 months (1-192 months). There were 58 (53.1%) males and 50 (46.8%) females. LEV load dose was 28.33 ± 4.60 mg/kg/dose (10-40 mg/kg). Out of these 108 patients, LEV terminated seizures in 79 (73.1%). No serious adverse effects were observed but agitation and aggression were developed in two patients, and mild erythematous rash and urticaria developed in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antiepileptic treatment of critically ill children with IV LEV seems to be effective and safe. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of IV LEV in critically ill children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Incecik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozden O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Horoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Herguner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dincer
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yıldızdas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Besen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tolunay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altunbasak
keywords: Critically ill children; effective; levetiracetam (LEV); safe