Levetiracetam for the treatment of neonatal seizures

J Child Neurol. 2007 Jan;22(1):95-8. doi: 10.1177/0883073807299973.

Abstract

Seizures are a common occurrence in the neonatal intensive care unit, especially among low-birth-weight infants. The efficacy and safety of standard anticonvulsants have not been evaluated extensively in the neonate. In addition, there is concern for the adverse effects of phenobarbital on long-term development. Levetiracetam has been a commonly prescribed oral anticonvulsant for the use of adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in adults with favorable tolerability, and it has been recently approved for children older than age 4 years. There are no published studies regarding the safety and efficacy of this medication in the infant population. This report describes the initiation of levetiracetam in 3 infants, aged 2 days to 3 months, for refractory seizures or intolerance to other anticonvulsants. Each patient was without seizure on levetiracetam monotherapy, and there were no adverse effects.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use*
  • Electroencephalography / drug effects
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Levetiracetam
  • Male
  • Piracetam / analogs & derivatives*
  • Piracetam / therapeutic use
  • Seizures / drug therapy*
  • Seizures / physiopathology

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Levetiracetam
  • Piracetam