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Efficacy of levetiracetam in the treatment of drug-resistant Rett syndrome.
- Source :
-
Epilepsy research [Epilepsy Res] 2010 Feb; Vol. 88 (2-3), pp. 112-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Nov 14. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Rett syndrome (RTT) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by a wide spectrum of phenotypes. Epilepsy is reported to occur in 50-90% of patients with RTT; some develop medically refractory epilepsy. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) in drug-resistant patients with RTT. This prospective, pragmatic, open-label study consisted of an 8-week baseline period and a 6-month evaluation period. Efficacy variable was the mean frequency of monthly seizures before, and after 3 and 6 months of treatment with LEV. Eight female patients, aged 7.5-19 years (M12.8+/-5) entered the study. Mean age at epilepsy onset was 25.8+/-14.1 months. All patients showed MeCP2 mutation. Patients had been treated with a mean of 3.4 AEDs (2-7) before LEV. The mean LEV dose was 44.84+/-18.02mg/kg/day. The mean monthly seizure frequency for all types of seizures during the baseline period was 21.3+/-8.1 (range 10-35); after 3 months it was 3.3+/-4.1 (range 0-9) and after 6 months of LEV treatment it was 1.5+/-2 (range 0-4), p<0.0001. The mean follow-up period was 20.2+/-13 months. Mild sleepiness occurred in two patients, one reported intermittent agitation. Levetiracetam appeared effective in our series of drug-resistant RTT patients. All reported a reduction in seizure frequency and consequently a better quality of life.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Analysis of Variance
Anticonvulsants therapeutic use
Child
Drug Administration Schedule
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Levetiracetam
Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 genetics
Patient Selection
Piracetam therapeutic use
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Rett Syndrome genetics
Seizures genetics
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
Piracetam analogs & derivatives
Rett Syndrome drug therapy
Seizures drug therapy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1872-6844
- Volume :
- 88
- Issue :
- 2-3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Epilepsy research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19914805
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2009.10.005