Ting Zhao1, Hong-Jian Li1, Jing Yu2, Ting-Ting Wang1, Jie Feng1, Long Ma2, Li Sun1, Yan Sun3, Lu-Hai Yu4. 1. Department of Pharmacy, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province 830001, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province 830001, China. 2. Department of Neurology, Pediatric Patients's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province 830001, China. 3. Department of Neurology, Pediatric Patients's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province 830001, China. Electronic address: sunkefang@163.com. 4. Department of Pharmacy, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province 830001, China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Province 830001, China. Electronic address: 1523264450@qq.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Levetiracetam is approved as an add-on therapy to treat refractory partial seizures in pediatric patients over four years old. The efficacy and safety in pediatric patients with epilepsy in Uygur, China, is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of levetiracetam in pediatric patients with epilepsy in Uygur, China. METHODS: This retrospective study compared the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam monotherapy and in combination with other antiseizure medications (ASMs) in 1055 pediatric patients with epilepsy treated with levetiracetam. The seizure frequencies at 1, 2, and 3 years after starting levetiracetam therapy were recorded and compared with the baseline yearly frequency. Safety variables included the incidence and type of adverse reactions. RESULTS: A total of 680 (64%) pediatric patients responded to levetiracetam therapy with a more than 50% reduction in the frequency of seizures. Seizure-free rates increased over time, 13%, 15%, and 18% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The number of baseline ASMs and the order of levetiracetam introduction were highly significant, impacting the likelihood of seizure remission during a 3-year follow-up period (p < 0.001). During levetiracetam treatment, 233 pediatric patients (22%) experienced at least one adverse reaction. CONCLUSION: These significant findings indicate that levetiracetam is likely to become a widely prescribed ASM for epilepsy in pediatric clinical practice because of its long-term safety, efficacy, and tolerability.
PURPOSE:Levetiracetam is approved as an add-on therapy to treat refractory partial seizures in pediatric patients over four years old. The efficacy and safety in pediatric patients with epilepsy in Uygur, China, is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of levetiracetam in pediatric patients with epilepsy in Uygur, China. METHODS: This retrospective study compared the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam monotherapy and in combination with other antiseizure medications (ASMs) in 1055 pediatric patients with epilepsy treated with levetiracetam. The seizure frequencies at 1, 2, and 3 years after starting levetiracetam therapy were recorded and compared with the baseline yearly frequency. Safety variables included the incidence and type of adverse reactions. RESULTS: A total of 680 (64%) pediatric patients responded to levetiracetam therapy with a more than 50% reduction in the frequency of seizures. Seizure-free rates increased over time, 13%, 15%, and 18% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The number of baseline ASMs and the order of levetiracetam introduction were highly significant, impacting the likelihood of seizure remission during a 3-year follow-up period (p < 0.001). During levetiracetam treatment, 233 pediatric patients (22%) experienced at least one adverse reaction. CONCLUSION: These significant findings indicate that levetiracetam is likely to become a widely prescribed ASM for epilepsy in pediatric clinical practice because of its long-term safety, efficacy, and tolerability.