Intravenous levetiracetam for treatment of seizures in term and preterm neonates

KARAOĞLU P., Hiz S., Iscan B., Polat A. İ., Ayanoglu M., DUMAN N., ...More

JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROSCIENCES, vol.15, no.1, pp.15-20, 2020 (ESCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.4103/jpn.jpn_66_19
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROSCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE
  • Page Numbers: pp.15-20
  • Keywords: Levetiracetam, neonatal convulsions, neonatal seizures, neonates, treatment, STATUS EPILEPTICUS, EFFICACY, CHILDREN, MANAGEMENT, EPILEPSY, BRAIN, MODEL
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Context: Seizures are the most frequent neurological disturbance in the neonatal period, and there are no evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of neonatal seizures. Here we report a study on the use of levetiracetam as second-line therapy in the treatment of seizures in term and preterm neonates. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam for seizures of term and preterm neonates. Settings and Design: We retrospectively analyzed data of the patients who had seizures and who were treated with levetiracetam as an add-on therapy to phenobarbital during the neonatal period. Statistical Analysis: The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 15.0 (SPSS, Chicago, Illinois), was used for statistical analysis. Continuous variables were expressed as mean values and standard deviations. Results: Thirty-six patients (8 term and 28 preterm) received levetiracetam. Mean dose of levetiracetam was 31.67 +/- 14.83mg/kg/day. Twenty-five of the patients (69.4%) were seizure free with levetiracetam treatment. Electroencephalography recordings improved in 28 (77.8%) of the patients after levetiracetam. No severe adverse effects were observed. Conclusion: Our data suggest that levetiracetam may be a safe and effective treatment for neonatal seizures, which are unresponsive to phenobarbital.