Abstract

EVALUATION OF SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF LEVETIRACETAM IN PAEDIATRIC EPILEPSY

*Sara Nasrollahi, Dr. Shobha Rani R. Hiremath, Mahvash Iram, Dr. V. Rajeev

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate safety and efficacy of levetiracetam therapy in paediatric epilepsy. Study design: A 6 months cohort prospective open label, uncontrolled, observational study was carried out at St. Philomena’s Hospital. Total of 69 patients were included in the study. Upon enrolment, 1st and 2nd follow-up of the patients were carried out at the interval of 3months to document ADRs, frequency of seizures and EEG reports of patients and statistical analysis of the data was carried out using wilcoxon signed rank test. Result: The results showed that out of 69 patients, 37 patients became 100% seizure free at 2nd follow up. A ≥50% reduction in seizures was observed in 15 patients at 2nd follow up.3 of 69 patients had <50% seizure reduction at 2nd follow up (P<0.001). ADRs reported were aggressiveness in 7 patients, hyperactivity in 4, rash in 3, drowsiness in 2 and 1 was prone to infection. Conclusion: Levetiracetam is found to be efficacious and safe in paediatric epilepsy.

Keywords: ADR, antiepileptics, seizure.