levetiracetam and Lennox-Gastaut-Syndrome

Our aim was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam as an add-on treatment in pediatric patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.. The study was an open-label, multicenter, observational clinical trial of levetiracetam as an add-on treatment in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Fifty-five patients aged 1.1-18.6 years (mean, 10.0 years) were enrolled. The study included a 4-8-week titration period and an 8-week maintenance period. The maintenance dose of levetiracetam was 20-80 mg/kg/day, according to its effectiveness and tolerability. The primary end point was reduction in seizure frequency, and related variables were also evaluated.. Among 55 patents, 51 patients (92.7%) completed the study. Thirty-two patients (58.2%) experienced a more than 50% reduction in seizure frequency, and 15 patients (27.3%) became seizure free. A reduction in seizure frequency of more than 50% was observed in 21 of 36 patients (58.3%) with convulsive seizures, 7 of 12 patients (58.3%) with drop attacks, 2 of 4 patients (50.0%) with myoclonic seizures, and 2 of 3 patients (66.7%) with epileptic spasms. Overall, 34.5% of patients reported adverse events. None of the adverse events were life threatening, and the most common adverse event was hyperactivity (12.7%).. This study suggests that levetiracetam is a safe and effective treatment in pediatric patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Topics: Adolescent; Anticonvulsants; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Infant; Lennox Gastaut Syndrome; Levetiracetam; Male; Piracetam; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Child; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Lennox Gastaut Syndrome; Levetiracetam; Male; Piracetam; Spasms, Infantile; Status Epilepticus

The Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is one of the most severe epileptic encephalopathies of childhood, characterized by electro-clinical triad of generalized spike-wave activity, slow (POL) in the electroencephalogram (EEG), multiple types of seizures and development delay. This paper intends to describe the syndrome in a patient with a history of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and a good response to treatment with levetiracetam (LEV).. Descriptive study on the development of a 3 year old child with intrauterine asphyxia, multiorgan failure, metabolic acidosis, hypovolemic shock, and seizures with cerebral oedema, who developed a West syndrome, resistant to drug treatment. The semiology of seizures progressively changed to generalized episodes of hypertonia and myoclonus, with slow spike-wave electroencephalographic activity.. With the diagnosis of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome the patient was treated with levetiracetam, showing a substantial improvement in the cognitive sphere, in the control of seizures, and electroencephalographic findings.. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is one of the most severe epileptic syndromes in paediatric patients. Levetiracetam can help cognitive improvement, and contribute to seizure control in these patients.

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Child, Preschool; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Lennox Gastaut Syndrome; Levetiracetam; Male; Piracetam; Spasms, Infantile