Abstracts

Rationale: To evaluate efficacy and safety of levetiracetam(LEV) as monotherapy on children with epilepsy.Methods: 146 cases children with epilepsy(age ranged from 3months to 13years)were received LEV monotherapy and who were investigated by a self-controlled and open-label research.These patients were selected form department of neurology,TianJin Children,s Hospital,form Dec.2007 to Apr.2010. LEV was administered at a dose of 62.5~250mg/d(7.2~20mg/kg.d), and increased by 62.5~250mg/d per week till to the target dose 250~1500mg/d(20~56mg/kg.d), adverge dose 39.5±18.8mg/kg.d.Results: 140 patients were followed up for more 6 months.120 out of 140(85.9%) patients had at least 50% reduction in seizures and 83 out of 140(59.3%) patients seizure-free during six months. 74 out of 77(96.1%) patients had at least 50% reduction in seizures and 59 out of 77(76.6%) patients seizure-free during twelve months. There were significant difference between groups(χ2 respectively 5.659，6.603，P＜0.05). The ≥50% reduction in seizures was 100% in myoclnic seizure ,89.5% in partial and secondary generalized seizure, 87.5% in children beingn epilepsy witn centro-temporal spikes,83.1% in generalized tonic or clonic seizure, 66.7% in mixed seizure .there were no significant difference between types of epilepsy(χ2 3.152,P＞0.05）). The ≥50% reduction in seizure was 92% in idiopathic epilepsy,79.4% in cryptogenic epilepsy, 90.2% in symptomatic epilepsy. there were no significant difference between of epilepsy(χ2 3.542,P＞0.05）). 12.8%(18/140) patients discontinued monotherapy for lack of efficany to addition of adjunct antiepilepsy drug. The adverse events included behavioral changs 1.4%（2/140）,difficulty sleeping 、decreased weight 、increased weight、respectively 0.7%(1/140), The adverse events was mild and spontaneonsly disappeared.There was no discontinued therapy due to adverse events.Conclusions: The LEV monotherapy are effective and safe in children with epilepsy. The LEV may be a broad-spectrum, first line antiepileptic drug in treatment children with epilepsy.