levetiracetam and Breast-Neoplasms

The objectives of this pilot trial were to assess the potential efficacy and safety of levetiracetam for the treatment of hot flashes, a major cause of morbidity among breast cancer survivors.. Women, aged 18 years or more, with a history of breast cancer or those who wished to avoid estrogen because of a perceived increased risk of breast cancer, who were experiencing bothersome hot flashes (more than or equal to 14 times per week, for more than or equal to 1 month before study entry), were included. During the baseline week, general demographic characteristics, hot flash information, and quality of life data were obtained. At the beginning of week 2, patients were started on levetiracetam for a total of 4 weeks. Information about hot flashes, quality of life, and toxicity were collected during these 4 weeks and compared with the baseline week.. After treatment with levetiracetam for 4 weeks (N = 19), mean hot flash scores (frequency times mean severity) were reduced by 57%, and mean hot flash frequencies were reduced by 53%, compared to the baseline week; both these reductions were greater than what would be expected with a placebo (20-25% reduction). There were significant improvements in abnormal sweating (p = 0.004), hot flash distress (p = 0.0002), and satisfaction of hot flash control (p = 0.0001), when comparing data from the fourth week of treatment to the baseline week. Twenty-nine percent of the subjects did not complete the study because of treatment-related adverse events, with the most frequently reported side effects being somnolence, fatigue, and dizziness, usually with mild to moderate intensity.. The results of this pilot trial suggest that levetiracetam might be an effective therapy for the treatment of hot flashes. Further data are needed to test this hypothesis, evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of this agent.

Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Dizziness; Fatigue; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Levetiracetam; Middle Aged; Nootropic Agents; Patient Satisfaction; Pilot Projects; Piracetam; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Stages

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen- receptor modulator commonly associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events, including cere- bral venous thrombosis. Ihe superior sagittal sinus appears to be the most affected site of cerebral venous thrombosis in patients with a history of malignancy. However, the underlying mechanism of tamoxifen- induced hypercoagulability and location of cerebral venous thrombosis are notwellunderstood. Here, we present a case of a 47-year-old female with a history of breast cancer, on tamoxifen for 10 months, found to have superior sagittal sinus thrombosis with additional thrombosis of the draining cortical veins. Furthermore, we review similar cases published in literature. We recommend that physicians should be aware ofthe potential of developing superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in patients who take tamoxifen and warn patients of this adverse event when prescribing the medication.

Topics: Anticoagulants; Anticonvulsants; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Blood Coagulation; Blood Coagulation Tests; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Levetiracetam; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Middle Aged; Phlebography; Piracetam; Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis; Superior Sagittal Sinus; Tamoxifen; Treatment Outcome; Warfarin