Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology (Jan 2016)

Intravenous levetiracetam in critically ill children

  • Faruk Incecik,
  • Ozden O Horoz,
  • Ozlem M Herguner,
  • Dincer Yıldızdas,
  • Seyda Besen,
  • Ilknur Tolunay,
  • Sakir Altunbasak

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.167702
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 79 – 82

Abstract

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Background: To report the effectiveness and safety of intravenous (IV) levetiracetam (LEV) in the treatment of critically ill children with acute repetitive seizures and status epilepticus (SE) in a children′s hospital. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from children treated with IV LEV. Results: The mean age of the 108 children was 69.39 ± 46.14 months (1-192 months). There were 58 (53.1%) males and 50 (46.8%) females. LEV load dose was 28.33 ± 4.60 mg/kg/dose (10-40 mg/kg). Out of these 108 patients, LEV terminated seizures in 79 (73.1%). No serious adverse effects were observed but agitation and aggression were developed in two patients, and mild erythematous rash and urticaria developed in one patient. Conclusion: Antiepileptic treatment of critically ill children with IV LEV seems to be effective and safe. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of IV LEV in critically ill children.

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