Levetiracetam Efficacy in Epileptic Syndromes with Continuous Spikes and Waves during Slow Sleep: Experience in 12 Cases
- 30 November 2005
- Vol. 46 (12), 1937-1942
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.00337.x
Abstract
To assess the add-on efficacy of levetiracetam on the EEG, behavior, and cognition of children with continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS).Charts of children with behavioral and/or cognitive deterioration associated with CSWS who received levetiracetam at 50 mg/kg/day as add-on treatment were retrospectively reviewed. Awake and sleep EEG recordings and detailed neuropsychological and behavioral assessments were available at baseline and 2 months after levetiracetam initiation. In children showing clinical and/or electrophysiological improvement after 2 months, levetiracetam was continued with a new evaluation at 1 year.Twelve patients were included (9 cryptogenic and 3 symptomatic cases). Seven patients (58.3%) showed improvement of EEG record. Among these seven patients, neuropsychological evaluation was improved in three, and in the other four patients, not testable because of severe cognitive impairment, behavior was improved. Two patients improved in neuropsychological evaluation despite the lack of EEG improvement. Eight patients (66.6%) continued levetiracetam treatment after 2 months. After 1 year, four patients were still on levetiracetam, two because sustained effect on EEG and behavior and the two others because improvement in neuropsychological testing despite unchanged EEG. Levetiracetam was discontinued in the other four patients because of neuropsychological or behavioral deterioration associated with CSWS pattern, between 9 and 11 months after treatment initiation.This retrospective study suggests that levetiracetam has a positive effect on the EEG, the behavior, and the cognition of patients with epilepsy and CSWS. Additional studies are warranted in order to assess the place of this drug in these epileptic conditions.This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Treatment of interictal epileptiform discharges can improve behavior in children with behavioral problems and epilepsyThe Journal of Pediatrics, 2005
- Efficacy of levetiracetam in pharmacoresistant continuous spikes and waves during slow sleepActa Neurologica Scandinavica, 2004
- Levetiracetam Reduces Spike–Wave Density and Duration during Continuous EEG Monitoring in Patients with Idiopathic Generalized EpilepsyEpilepsia, 2003
- Effect of Levetiracetam on Epileptiform Discharges in Human Neocortical SlicesEpilepsia, 2002
- Use of Levetiracetam in Special PopulationsEpilepsia, 2001
- Use of Levetiracetam in Special PopulationsEpilepsia, 2001
- Multiple subpial transection in Landau‐Kleffner syndromeDevelopmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 2001
- Landau-Kleffner Syndrome and SulthiameNeuropediatrics, 1997
- Treatment of electrical status epilepticus by short diazepam (DZP) cycles after DZP rectal bolus testBrain & Development, 1995
- Treatment of "Benign" Partial Epilepsies of Childhood, Including Atypical FormsNeuropediatrics, 1995