Carly A Webb1, Richard Wanbon2, Erica D Otto3. 1. , BScPharm, ACPR, PharmD, is with the Department of Pharmacy, Island Health, Victoria, British Columbia. 2. , BSc, BScPharm, ACPR, PharmD, is with the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Island Health, Victoria, British Columbia. 3. , BScPharm, ACPR, PharmD, FCSHP, is with Victoria General Hospital, Island Health, Victoria, British Columbia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurologic emergency with potential for substantial mortality and morbidity. Parenteral benzodiazepine is the established first-line treatment but fails to control SE in about one-third of patients. Levetiracetam may be used for SE that is refractory to benzodiazepine therapy. OBJECTIVE: To examine, by means of a systematic review, the role of IV levetiracetam for the treatment of SE in adults. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases were searched, from inception to August 18, 2020. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Included in this review were prospective randomized controlled trials comparing levetiracetam with another antiepileptic drug, given with or after a benzodiazepine, in adult patients with SE. The primary outcome was cessation of SE. Quality of evidence was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Characteristics of the included studies were reported using descriptive statistics. DATA SYNTHESIS: Five studies compared IV levetiracetam with valproic acid, phenytoin (or its prodrug fosphenytoin), or both. All 5 studies found no statistically significant differences in efficacy or safety end points. There were numerically more cases of hypotension and respiratory failure with phenytoin, and more cases of psychiatric adverse effects (e.g., post-ictal psychosis) with levetiracetam. CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence suggests that levetiracetam is as effective as valproic acid or phenytoin for the cessation of SE in adults. Other factors should therefore dictate the choice of antiepileptic drug for patients with SE, such as adverse effect profile, logistics of administration, drug cost, inclusion on hospital formularies, and drug availability. 2022 Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. All content in the Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy is copyrighted by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy. In submitting their manuscripts, the authors transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership to CSHP.
BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurologic emergency with potential for substantial mortality and morbidity. Parenteral benzodiazepine is the established first-line treatment but fails to control SE in about one-third of patients. Levetiracetam may be used for SE that is refractory to benzodiazepine therapy. OBJECTIVE: To examine, by means of a systematic review, the role of IV levetiracetam for the treatment of SE in adults. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases were searched, from inception to August 18, 2020. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Included in this review were prospective randomized controlled trials comparing levetiracetam with another antiepileptic drug, given with or after a benzodiazepine, in adult patients with SE. The primary outcome was cessation of SE. Quality of evidence was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Characteristics of the included studies were reported using descriptive statistics. DATA SYNTHESIS: Five studies compared IV levetiracetam with valproic acid, phenytoin (or its prodrug fosphenytoin), or both. All 5 studies found no statistically significant differences in efficacy or safety end points. There were numerically more cases of hypotension and respiratory failure with phenytoin, and more cases of psychiatric adverse effects (e.g., post-ictal psychosis) with levetiracetam. CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence suggests that levetiracetam is as effective as valproic acid or phenytoin for the cessation of SE in adults. Other factors should therefore dictate the choice of antiepileptic drug for patients with SE, such as adverse effect profile, logistics of administration, drug cost, inclusion on hospital formularies, and drug availability. 2022 Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. All content in the Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy is copyrighted by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy. In submitting their manuscripts, the authors transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership to CSHP.
Entities:
Keywords:
anticonvulsants; anticonvulsivants; convulsions; levetiracetam; lévétiracétam; revue systématique; seizures; status epilepticus; systematic review; état de mal épileptique
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