[Experience with levetiracetam in the treatment of status epilepticus].

Non-convulsive status epilepticus and epilepsia partialis continua are common epileptic conditions for which straightforward recommendations based on controlled randomised trials for treatment of therapy refractory courses are lacking. Therefore in these conditions sometimes antiepileptic drugs that are not approved by governmental authorities for the treatment of status epilepticus (SE) are used. Here we review all case reports and case series concerning the treatment of SE with levetiracetam (LEV), that had been listed in pub-med up to December 12th 2011. Additionally we analysed abstracts and papers in peer reviewed journals, that were listed in the references of the primarily reviewed papers. Furthermore we looked for LEV treatments in papers on the use of lacosamide (LCM) in SE. LEV was given in dosages ranging from 500 mg to 9000 mg per day. Side effects were especially sedation and irritability. Estimated on the basis of the case series the overall success-rate of LEV in terminating status epilepticus may be set in a range between 53.7% and 58.1%. Therefore LEV may be a useful alternative for the treatment of SE when the approved drugs are contraindicated or when these drugs have been taken without success. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.