LONG-TERM USE OF LEVETIRACETAM IN SEVERE CHILDHOOD ONSET EPILEPSY
Abstract number :
1.247
Submission category :
Year :
2004
Submission ID :
4275
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/2/2004 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2004, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Celina v. Stülpnagel-Oefele, Gerhard Kluger, and Hans Holthausen
There are only a few studies on the long-term use of levetiracetam (LEV), in children in particular. We report on 101 patients with severe childhood onset epilepsy who were treated with LEV and followed up at least 24 month. 101 patients (ages 6 month to 36,8 years, mean age 11,2 years;68 male) with intractable seizures were treated with LEV as add-on (n= 95; 94%) or mono-therapy (n= 6; 6%). 62 Patients (61%) had focal epilepsy, 30 (30%) had generalized epilepsy and 9 (9%) had an epilepsy which could not be classified. Average dose of LEV was 39,1 mg/ kg/ d (range 6- 70 mg/ kg/ d), concomitant anticonvulsants (AED) ranged from none to four and number of prior AEDs ranged from one to fifteen (median six). Seizure frequency was determined six weeks before therapy with LEV, and three month, six month and two years after starting the therapy with LEV. Responder were defined as a reduction of seizure frequency [gt]50 % in comparison to four weeks before starting the therapy with LEV and a lasting effect for at least five month Responder at six month were 43 (43%), of which 13 (30%) had side effects. After 24 month the responder in our group of patients with highly intractable childhood epilepsy were 13 % (n=13), of which seven patients (54%) had a focal epilepsy, five patients (38%)had a generalized epilepsy and there was one patient with a not classified epilepsy. Side effects occurred in 48 (48%) patients and were mainly sleepiness, aggressive behaviour and worsening of seizures. All side effects were reversible by discontinuing the therapy and this occurred mainly within the first three month(n=34; 34%). The long-term retention rate of LEV in this group with difficult to treat childhood onset epilepsy was similiar to our experience with lamotrigin, topiramat and felbamat, but better than with tiagabin, gabapentin and vigabatrim in similiar patient groups (Zs[oacute]tér A., Kluger G.,Holthausen H, Neuropediatrics 2004 data in print). LEV seems to be a safe drug and is easy to handle in this group of patients. (Supported by Ucb- Group)