Levetiracetam in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: long-term efficacy in newly diagnosed adolescents
Alberto Verrotti MD PhD
Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCaterina Cerminara MD
Paediatric Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Search for more papers by this authorGiangennaro Coppola MD
Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Naples, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorEmilio Franzoni MD
Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Bologna, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorPasquale Parisi MD
Department of Paediatrics, Child Neurology and Paediatric Sleep Centre, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorPaola Iannetti MD
Department of Paediatrics, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorPaolo Aloisi MD
Neurophysiology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorElisabetta Tozzi MD
Department of Paediatrics, University of L'Aquila, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorRaffaella Cusmai MD
Department of Neurology,‘Bambin Gesù’Hospital, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorFederico Vigevano MD
Department of Neurology,‘Bambin Gesù’Hospital, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorFrancesco Chiarelli MD
Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Paolo Curatolo MD
Paediatric Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
* Correspondence to last author at Pediatric Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAlberto Verrotti MD PhD
Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCaterina Cerminara MD
Paediatric Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Search for more papers by this authorGiangennaro Coppola MD
Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Naples, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorEmilio Franzoni MD
Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Bologna, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorPasquale Parisi MD
Department of Paediatrics, Child Neurology and Paediatric Sleep Centre, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorPaola Iannetti MD
Department of Paediatrics, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorPaolo Aloisi MD
Neurophysiology Unit, University of L'Aquila, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorElisabetta Tozzi MD
Department of Paediatrics, University of L'Aquila, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorRaffaella Cusmai MD
Department of Neurology,‘Bambin Gesù’Hospital, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorFederico Vigevano MD
Department of Neurology,‘Bambin Gesù’Hospital, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorFrancesco Chiarelli MD
Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Rome, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Paolo Curatolo MD
Paediatric Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
* Correspondence to last author at Pediatric Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). The study group consisted of 32 patients with epilepsy (20 males, 12 females) with a mean age of 13 years 3 months (SD 7y 11mo) at seizure onset. LEV was administered as the first drug; all patients were followed up at 6 and 12 months. The dose that achieved seizure control ranged from 1000 to 2500mg/daily. At 6-month evaluation: 15 patients were seizure free; 14 patients were responders (>50% reduction in seizures); and three patients had marginal effects (<50% reduction of seizures). At 12-month evaluation: 29 patients were seizure free; three patients were responders. No patients reported adverse events. These data provide preliminary evidence that LEV may be effective for treating patients with newly diagnosed JME.
List of abbreviations
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- AED
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- Antiepileptic drug
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- JME
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- Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
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- LEV
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- Levetiracetam
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