Safety and efficacy of levetiracetam as an adjuvant therapy in pediatricepilepsy

[摘要] Levetiracetam is a novel AED that has recently been approved as add-on treatment for various seizure types in epilepsy populations that include children. The objective was to study safety and efficacy of Levetiracetam in pediatric patients with refractory epilepsy. A prospective observational study was performed in Bharati Hospital and Research Centre. Paediatric patients who were on Levetiracetam therapy were identified and their 2 follow ups were taken for determining safety and efficacy of therapy. 50 Paediatric patients with refractory epilepsy and who were on Levetiracetam therapy were included. Among them 33 (66%) were males and 17 (34%) were females. Observed prevalence of epilepsy in the hospital was 7.18 per thousand persons. It was observed that 48% had partial seizures while 52% patients had generalized seizures. The study showed that Levetiracetam was effective in controlling seizures in 70.82% of patients having partial seizures and 57.68% of patients having generalized seizures. Levetiracetam was most effective as 3rd line followed by 2nd line and lastly as 1st line. The most commonly observed side effects were anorexia, irritability and somnolence. Prevalence of epilepsy was found to be higher in males than females. Levetiracetam was effective in controlling both partial and generalized seizures but it was more effective in partial onset seizures. Levetiracetam therapy was most effective as 3rd line of treatment. Very few sideeffects of low severity was observed. Levetiracetam was found to be well tolerated.

[学科分类] 药理学