TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical experience with levetiracetam in idiopathic generalized epilepsy according to different syndrome subtypes
AU - Di Bonaventura, Carlo
AU - Fattouch, Jinane
AU - Mari, Francesco
AU - Egeo, Gabriella
AU - Vaudano, Anna Elisabetta
AU - Prencipe, Massimiliano
AU - Manfredi, Mario
AU - Giallonardo, Anna Teresa
PY - 2005/9
Y1 - 2005/9
N2 - Clinical experience in open-label studies and anectodal reports suggest that levetiracetam is effective in generalized epilepsy. In this open-label prospective study, 19 patients (3 men, 16 women) affected by idiopathic generalized epilepsy were followed for at least 6 months following the introduction of levetiracetam. Patients were categorized according to syndrome subtype: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (8), juvenile absence epilepsy (5), childhood absence epilepsy (4), and eyelid myoclonia with absences (2). Eleven patients received levetiracetam as monotherapy, eight as add-on therapy. Effectiveness was demonstrated in 18 patients: 13 became seizure-free (five juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, five juvenile absence epilepsy, three childhood absence epilepsy), and five achieved significant reductions in seizure frequency (three juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, one childhood absence epilepsy, one eyelid myoclonia with absences). Only one patient experienced no change in seizure frequency (eyelid myoclonia with absences). Clinical improvement was accompanied by EEG abnormality suppression or reduction. Levetiracetam was well tolerated; no patient reported side-effects.
AB - Clinical experience in open-label studies and anectodal reports suggest that levetiracetam is effective in generalized epilepsy. In this open-label prospective study, 19 patients (3 men, 16 women) affected by idiopathic generalized epilepsy were followed for at least 6 months following the introduction of levetiracetam. Patients were categorized according to syndrome subtype: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (8), juvenile absence epilepsy (5), childhood absence epilepsy (4), and eyelid myoclonia with absences (2). Eleven patients received levetiracetam as monotherapy, eight as add-on therapy. Effectiveness was demonstrated in 18 patients: 13 became seizure-free (five juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, five juvenile absence epilepsy, three childhood absence epilepsy), and five achieved significant reductions in seizure frequency (three juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, one childhood absence epilepsy, one eyelid myoclonia with absences). Only one patient experienced no change in seizure frequency (eyelid myoclonia with absences). Clinical improvement was accompanied by EEG abnormality suppression or reduction. Levetiracetam was well tolerated; no patient reported side-effects.
KW - Add-on therapy
KW - Idiopathic generalized epilepsy
KW - Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
KW - Levetiracetam
KW - Monotherapy
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M3 - Article
C2 - 16162433
AN - SCOPUS:25844458408
VL - 7
SP - 231
EP - 235
JO - Epileptic Disorders
JF - Epileptic Disorders
SN - 1294-9361
IS - 3
ER -