Levetiracetam in Neonatal Seizures as First-line Treatment: A Prospective Study

Raffaele Falsaperla; Giovanna Vitaliti; Laura Mauceri; Catia Romano; Piero Pavone; Nazgol Motamed-Gorji; Nassim Matin; Riccardo Lubrano; Giovanni Corsello

doi:10.4103/jpn.JPN_172_16

Levetiracetam in Neonatal Seizures as First-line Treatment: A Prospective Study

J Pediatr Neurosci. 2017 Jan-Mar;12(1):24-28. doi: 10.4103/jpn.JPN_172_16.

Authors

Raffaele Falsaperla¹, Giovanna Vitaliti¹, Laura Mauceri¹, Catia Romano¹, Piero Pavone¹, Nazgol Motamed-Gorji², Nassim Matin³, Riccardo Lubrano⁴, Giovanni Corsello⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, General Paediatrics Operative Unit, Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
² School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Paediatric Nephrology Operative Unit, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, AOUP, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

Abstract

Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) as first-line treatment of neonatal seizures.

Materials and methods: This study was conducted in patients of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Santo Bambino Hospital, University of Catania, Italy, from January to August 2016. A total of 16 neonates with convulsions not associated with major syndromes, which required anticonvulsant therapy, were included and underwent IV LEV at standard doses.

Results: All patients responded to treatment, with a variety range of seizure resolution period (from 24 h to 15 days; mean hours: 96 ± 110.95). No patient required a second anticonvulsant therapy. Regarding safety of LEV, no major side-effects were observed.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, it is one of the few studies confirming the efficiency of LEV as first-line treatment in seizures of this age group. LEV was effective in resolving seizures and was safely administered in the current study.

Keywords: Efficiency and safety; levetiracetam; neonatal seizures; prospective study.