Abstract
The aim of this multicentre, prospective, open-label, pragmatic study is to evaluate the effectiveness of levetiracetam (LEV) in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), LEV was given (up to 3000 mg/day) as add-on treatment in JME patients resistant or intolerant to previous AEDs, or as first treatment in newly diagnosed patients. 43 patients were enrolled (35 F); 8 were newly diagnosed. Mean dosage of LEV was 2090 mg/day (± 784). Mean study period was 18 months (± 10). 16/43 (37%) patients were seizure-free, 18/43 (41%) were without mioclonias, and 30/43 (69%) had no GTC seizures. Mean monthly frequencies of days with mioclonias and generalized tonic-clonic seizures before and after LEV were 5.9 ± 6.4 vs 2.1 ± 5.5 (p = 0.004), and 0.5 ± 0.9 vs 0.2 ± 0.6 respectively. 5/10 patients showed a suppression or a marked reduction of photosensitivity. 5 patients complained of side effects. In our study LEV appears to be useful and well-tolerated in the treatment of JME.
| Translated title of the contribution | Levetiracetam in the treatment of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy |
|---|---|
| Original language | Italian |
| Pages (from-to) | 101-103 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Bollettino - Lega Italiana contro l'Epilessia |
| Issue number | 129-130 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology