Abstract
Introduction: Levetiracetam (LEV) is an effective antiepileptic drug also used in childhood and adolescence. Literature data regarding the long-term effects of LEV in childhood epilepsy and based on extensive neuropsychological evaluations using standardized tools are still scanty. Our study aimed to address this topic. Materials and Methods: We studied 10 patients with epilepsy characterized by focal or generalized seizures (4 boys, 6 girls; mean age: 10 years 8 months; range: 6 years 2 months - 16 years 2 months), treated with adjunctive LEV during a follow-up of 12 months. In 6 patients electroencephalogram (EEG) showed continuous spike and waves during sleep. Using standardized tools, we performed seriated assessments of cognitive and behavioral functioning in relation to seizure and EEG outcome. Results: Six patients completed the trial after 12 months of treatment; 1 patient dropped out of the study after 9 months, 3 patients after 6 months. Adjunctive LEV was effective on seizures in 3/10 patients and on EEG in 2/10 patients, and was well tolerated in all examined cases. Overall, no worsening of cognitive or behavioral functions has been detected during the period of the study; even at 6 and 12 months from baseline, an improvement in patients′ abstract reasoning has been found, that was not related to seizure or EEG outcome. Conclusions: In our population of children and adolescents, LEV had no adverse cognitive or behavioral effects, short- or long-term. We found an improvement of abstract reasoning, regardless of seizure and EEG outcome.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 115-120 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 1 2014 |
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Keywords
- Adolescence
- antiepileptic drugs
- behavior
- childhood
- cognitive functions
- electroencephalogram
- epilepsy
- levetiracetam
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Neuropsychological implications of adjunctive levetiracetam in childhood epilepsy. / Posar, Annio; Salerno, Grazia; Monti, Morena; Santucci, Margherita; Scaduto, Maria; Parmeggiani, Antonia.
In: Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences, Vol. 9, No. 2, 01.07.2014, p. 115-120.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuropsychological implications of adjunctive levetiracetam in childhood epilepsy
AU - Posar, Annio
AU - Salerno, Grazia
AU - Monti, Morena
AU - Santucci, Margherita
AU - Scaduto, Maria
AU - Parmeggiani, Antonia
PY - 2014/7/1
Y1 - 2014/7/1
N2 - Introduction: Levetiracetam (LEV) is an effective antiepileptic drug also used in childhood and adolescence. Literature data regarding the long-term effects of LEV in childhood epilepsy and based on extensive neuropsychological evaluations using standardized tools are still scanty. Our study aimed to address this topic. Materials and Methods: We studied 10 patients with epilepsy characterized by focal or generalized seizures (4 boys, 6 girls; mean age: 10 years 8 months; range: 6 years 2 months - 16 years 2 months), treated with adjunctive LEV during a follow-up of 12 months. In 6 patients electroencephalogram (EEG) showed continuous spike and waves during sleep. Using standardized tools, we performed seriated assessments of cognitive and behavioral functioning in relation to seizure and EEG outcome. Results: Six patients completed the trial after 12 months of treatment; 1 patient dropped out of the study after 9 months, 3 patients after 6 months. Adjunctive LEV was effective on seizures in 3/10 patients and on EEG in 2/10 patients, and was well tolerated in all examined cases. Overall, no worsening of cognitive or behavioral functions has been detected during the period of the study; even at 6 and 12 months from baseline, an improvement in patients′ abstract reasoning has been found, that was not related to seizure or EEG outcome. Conclusions: In our population of children and adolescents, LEV had no adverse cognitive or behavioral effects, short- or long-term. We found an improvement of abstract reasoning, regardless of seizure and EEG outcome.
AB - Introduction: Levetiracetam (LEV) is an effective antiepileptic drug also used in childhood and adolescence. Literature data regarding the long-term effects of LEV in childhood epilepsy and based on extensive neuropsychological evaluations using standardized tools are still scanty. Our study aimed to address this topic. Materials and Methods: We studied 10 patients with epilepsy characterized by focal or generalized seizures (4 boys, 6 girls; mean age: 10 years 8 months; range: 6 years 2 months - 16 years 2 months), treated with adjunctive LEV during a follow-up of 12 months. In 6 patients electroencephalogram (EEG) showed continuous spike and waves during sleep. Using standardized tools, we performed seriated assessments of cognitive and behavioral functioning in relation to seizure and EEG outcome. Results: Six patients completed the trial after 12 months of treatment; 1 patient dropped out of the study after 9 months, 3 patients after 6 months. Adjunctive LEV was effective on seizures in 3/10 patients and on EEG in 2/10 patients, and was well tolerated in all examined cases. Overall, no worsening of cognitive or behavioral functions has been detected during the period of the study; even at 6 and 12 months from baseline, an improvement in patients′ abstract reasoning has been found, that was not related to seizure or EEG outcome. Conclusions: In our population of children and adolescents, LEV had no adverse cognitive or behavioral effects, short- or long-term. We found an improvement of abstract reasoning, regardless of seizure and EEG outcome.
KW - Adolescence
KW - antiepileptic drugs
KW - behavior
KW - childhood
KW - cognitive functions
KW - electroencephalogram
KW - epilepsy
KW - levetiracetam
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925446658&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84925446658&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4103/1817-1745.139282
DO - 10.4103/1817-1745.139282
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84925446658
VL - 9
SP - 115
EP - 120
JO - Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences
JF - Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences
SN - 1817-1745
IS - 2
ER -