Abstract |
In the past decade, most studies on levetiracetam were conducted on patients aged > or = 4 years of age. The authors sought to assess the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam as an adjunctive treatment of children <4 years of age with refractory epilepsy. The mean levetiracetam dosage used on the 24 patients in this study was 38.85 mg/kg per day, and the mean duration of treatment was 40 weeks. During the study, levetiracetam was tapered off in 2 patients due to seizure worsening and was discontinued in other 2 patients due to unacceptable adverse effects. Levetiracetam therapy was effective in 58.3% of patients, with 20.8% achieving seizure freedom. Eight patients showed no obvious response and the remaining 2 patients showed divergent responses. Although adverse effects were seen in 37.5% of patients, all adverse effects were tolerable or resolved with time or discontinuation. Therefore, the authors conclude that levetiracetam treatment is effective and safe in young children with refractory epilepsy.
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Authors | Sixiu Li, Jie Cao, Nong Xiao, Fangcheng Cai |
Journal | Journal of child neurology
(J Child Neurol)
Vol. 25
Issue 5
Pg. 609-13
(May 2010)
ISSN: 1708-8283 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19779208
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Anticonvulsants
- Levetiracetam
- Piracetam
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Topics |
- Anticonvulsants
(administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Child, Preschool
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Epilepsy
(drug therapy)
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Levetiracetam
- Male
- Piracetam
(administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
- Seizures
(drug therapy)
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
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