Abstracts

Rationale: The antiepileptic drug (AED) levetiracetam is indicated for adjunctive treatment for JME (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy) and for myoclonic epilepsy in adults. We report here the use of levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy for JME as well as primary therapy for JME in a group of 8 adolescents and young adults, ranging in age from 15 to 24 at the time of chart review. Methods: Chart review of a cohort of 16 patients with JME; eight had confirmed JME, eight presumed JME. Of these, 8 were treated with keppra, six initially as adjunctive therapy. They had been previously treated with depakote, lamictal, or no medication. Age range (of the eight treated with levetiracetam) was 15 to 24. Age at seizure onset ranged from 6-18 years Results: Of the 8 patients treated with levetiracetam for their JME, six remained on the medication. One experienced behavioral (mood) side effects and was taken off keppra, one became depressed and committed suicide (unclear if related to the medication) Of the remaining six, five were on levetiracetam monotherapy with excellent tolerability. Four experienced 100% seizure freedom and the fifth experienced a 75% reduction in seizure frequency. Conclusions: Levetiracetam was efficacious and well-tolerated in this cohort of patients with JME.