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Levetiracetam Looks Promising For Some Children With Epilepsy

Recent research suggests that levetiracetam is both well tolerated and efficacious in some children with epilepsy.

The drug had proved useful in treating adults with the disorder, however, it is not currently approved for children, despite a safe, efficacious pharmacokinetic profile.

Clinicians in the Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the University of Texas- Houston, Houston, United States, considered it might prove valuable for children, in particular those with refractory epilepsy.

Thirty nine children, mean age 8.6 years, who were treated for up to nine months with open-labeled levetiracetam were enrolled in this study.

Documentation of neurological examinations, frequency of seizures, drug dosages and adverse events commenced at baseline and continued at routine follow-up visits.

Used as an add-on therapy, levetiracetam proved efficacious in reducing the frequency of various seizures in some children but proved most effective in the management of partial-onset seizures.

Fourteen patients discontinued the medication due either to adverse events or its lack of efficacy. Improvements in cognition or behaviour were noted in 10 patients.

Clinicians acknowledged the encouraging positive effects on cognition. They concluded that, large, well-controlled studies are necessary to fully define the potential of levetiracetam in children with refractory epilepsy.
Journal of Child Neurology, 2002 Vol 17 pp 413-415. "Levetiracetam in Refractory Pediatric Epilepsy"

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