Levetiracetam for treatment of neonatal seizures.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-1-2011
Abstract
Neonatal seizures are often refractory to treatment with initial antiseizure medications. Consequently, clinicians turn to alternatives such as levetiracetam, despite the lack of published data regarding its safety, tolerability, or efficacy in the neonatal population. We report a retrospectively identified cohort of 23 neonates with electroencephalographically confirmed seizures who received levetiracetam. Levetiracetam was considered effective if administration was associated with a greater than 50% seizure reduction within 24 hours. Levetiracetam was initiated at a mean conceptional age of 41 weeks. The mean initial dose was 16 ± 6 mg/kg and the mean maximum dose was 45 ± 19 mg/kg/day. No respiratory or cardiovascular adverse effects were reported or detected. Levetiracetam was associated with a greater than 50% seizure reduction in 35% (8 of 23), including seizure termination in 7. Further study is warranted to determine optimal levetiracetam dosing in neonates and to compare efficacy with other antiseizure medications.
Volume
26
Issue
4
First Page
465
Last Page
470
ISSN
1708-8283
Published In/Presented At
Abend, N. S., Gutierrez-Colina, A. M., Monk, H. M., Dlugos, D. J., & Clancy, R. R. (2011). Levetiracetam for treatment of neonatal seizures. Journal of child neurology, 26(4), 465–470. https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073810384263
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
PubMedID
21233461
Department(s)
Department of Pediatrics
Document Type
Article