title: A Comparison of Intravenous Levetiracetam and Valproate for the Treatment of Refractory Status Epilepticus in Children.
abstract: Because of the lack of studies comparing the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam and valproate before the induction of general anesthesia in the treatment of convulsive refractory status epilepticus in children, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of these antiepileptic drugs in patients with convulsive status epilepticus admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit between 2011 and 2014. Forty-six (59%) of the 78 patients received levetiracetam, and 32 (41%) received valproate for the treatment of refractory status epilepticus. The response rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Although no adverse event was noted in patients who received levetiracetam, 4 (12.5%) patients in the valproate group experienced liver dysfunction (P = .025). According to our results, levetiracetam and valproate may be used in the treatment of refractory status epilepticus before the induction of general anesthesia. Levetiracetam appears as effective as valproate, and also safer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey dr.ranaisguder@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: İşgüder
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orkide
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Güzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ünsal
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ağın
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010889:Piracetam
keywords: levetiracetam; pediatric intensive care unit; refractory status epilepticus; valproate