Efficacy of levetiracetam monotherapy in childhood epilepsies

Objective: Levetiracetam is a new antiepileptic drug especially approved for treatment of focal seizures in adults and children. The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam monotherapy in pediatric patients. Method: In the study 225 children (aged 1 month-18 years) receiving levetiracetam and had being followed for at least 1 year were evaluated. The dagnosis of epilepsy was made by history of two or more unprovoked seizures. Dermographic characteristics, reason for antiepleptic treatment, the dose of levetiracetam, duriation of the treatment, antiepileptic drugs used previously, seizure type, seizure duriation, cranial MRI and EEG, seizure etiology and side effects of the drug were documented. Findings: A total of 225 patients, 95 girls and 130 boys, were enrolled in the study. 125 (55,6%) patients had generalized, 90 (%40) had focal seizures and 10 (4,4%) had epileptic syndromes of childhood. Overall, 186 (82,7%) patients remained seizure-free. According to the seizure type; 80,8% (101/225) of generalized and 87,8% (79/225) of focal seizures ended. When evaluated according to the EEG; 82,8% of generalized and 82,9% of focal seizures were terminated. There was no difference in the effectiveness of levetiracetam in partial and generalized epilepsy. Overall, 8 (18%) patients had advers events. The most common side effects were evaluated as irritability and nervousness. There was no relationship between drug dose and side effects. Results: Levetiracetam monotherapy is effective in childhood epilepsies with focal and generalized seizures. It is well tolerated inspite of mild and transient side effects which not require drug discontinuation. Keywords: Child, epilepsy, levetiracetam, monotherapy.