Document Detail


Role of intravenous levetiracetam in acute seizure management of children.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19520272     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Status epilepticus is defined as a seizure lasting beyond 30 minutes. Children with intractable epilepsy undergo frequent hospital admissions secondary to status epilepticus or because of acute exacerbation of seizures. Intravenous levetiracetam became available in August 2006 for use in patients aged above 16 years. There are insufficient data about the efficacy and safety of intravenous levetiracetam in children. We retrospectively analyzed data from children treated with intravenous levetiracetam for status epilepticus and acute exacerbation of seizures. We acquired data from our institution's electronic medical records concerning patients with status epilepticus and acute exacerbation of seizures who received intravenous levetiracetam. Thirty-two patients (age range, 2 months to 18 years) had received a levetiracetam load of 25-50 mg/kg for status epilepticus. There were 17 (53.1%) males and 15 (46.8%) females. Response to intravenous levetiracetam in all patients was favorable. Status epilepticus ceased clinically and electrographically. Eighteen patients (56.5%) received intravenous levetiracetam after receiving fosphenytoin and Ativan with no response. No serious side effects were evident. Fifteen patients (46.8%) were discharged on levetiracetam monotherapy, and 9 (28.1%) received levetiracetam as adjunctive therapy after discharge from the hospital. Intravenous levetiracetam can be used adjunctively or as monotherapy in children with status epilepticus and acute exacerbation of seizures.
Authors:
Batool F Kirmani; Edwin D Crisp; Saima Kayani; Hasan Rajab
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pediatric neurology     Volume:  41     ISSN:  1873-5150     ISO Abbreviation:  Pediatr. Neurol.     Publication Date:  2009 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-06-12     Completed Date:  2009-08-27     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8508183     Medline TA:  Pediatr Neurol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  37-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Scott and White Neuroscience Institute, Temple, Texas 76508, USA. bkirmani@swmail.sw.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage*
Brain / drug effects,  physiopathology
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Child
Child, Preschool
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Infant
Infusions, Intravenous
Male
Piracetam / administration & dosage,  analogs & derivatives*
Retrospective Studies
Seizures / drug therapy*,  etiology,  physiopathology
Status Epilepticus / drug therapy*,  etiology,  physiopathology
Treatment Outcome
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anticonvulsants; 33996-58-6/etiracetam; 7491-74-9/Piracetam

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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