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Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado

2008, Number 1

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Rev Esp Med Quir 2008; 13 (1)

Clinical response to levetiracetam for the treatment of patients with

Márquez ROG, Solórzano GE, Gutiérrez MJ

Language: Spanish
References: 18
Page: 12-17
PDF size: 184.54 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the clinical response to levetiracetam for the treatment of patients with decompensated Lennox Gastaut syndrome.
Material and methods: Sixteen patients with Lennox Gastaut syndrome were diagnosed in the outpatient pediatric neurology department at the Centro Medico Nacional 20 de Noviembre. Levetiracetam was added to their standard treatment: 20 mg/kg/day were given initially; this dose was increased on the bases of the clinical response. A monthly follow-up calendar was kept for six month which included the number of events (crises) before and after the medication was started. Side effects and laboratory studies were recorded prior to the initiation of the medication and subsequently every three months.
Results: Seven male and seven female patients with a mean age of 8.8 ± 3.6 years completed their treatment. Twelve of the 14 patients had an asymptomatic Lennox Gastaut syndromes: two were cryptogenic. In three patients, complete control of the crises took place after the use of levetiracetam. In the remaining eleven patients, a reduction of 50% or more of the crises took place.
Conclusions: Levetiracetam is a useful antiepileptic drug in decompensated Lennox Gastauat syndrome patients in as much as it reduces the number of crises with 30 to 60 mg/kg/day doses. There were minimal side effects, whereas complete control was poor. This drug is indicated in these patients since it reduces the number of crises. The initial dose of 30 mg/kg/day can be increased when a positive response is not obtained. The most common side effect was slight irritability.


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