Effects of Oxcarbazepine combined with Levetiracetam treatment on electroencephalography and serum levels of S-100β, glial fibrillary acidic protein in children with epilepsy

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of Oxcarbazepine combined with Levetiracetam treatment on electroencephalography (EEG) and serum levels of S-100β, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in children with epilepsy. Methods One hundred and ten children with epilepsy who were admitted to Zhumadian Central Hospital from March 2016 to May 2017 were selected as research subjects.The random number table method was used to divide 55 patients into combined group (treated with Oxcarbazepine plus Levetiracetam) and 55 patients in control group (only treated with Oxcarbazepine). The clinical efficacy, EEG background activity, serum S-100β and GFAP levels were compared between the 2 groups after treatment. Results The control rate of the combined group was 69.09%, the markedly effective was 18.18%, the effective was 9.09%, and ineffective was 3.64%; the control group had a control rate of 52.73%, markedly effective 20.00%, effective 20.00%, and ineffective 7.27%, respectively.The differences between the 2 groups were statistically significant (Z=-2.012, P=0.044). Before and after treatment, the background activity of EEG in both groups was dominated by alpha wave activity.There was no significant difference in the activity rate of alpha wave, theta wave and delta wave between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in serum S-100β and GFAP levels between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, serum S-100β [(0.415±0.086) μg/L, (0.473±0.091) μg/L], GFAP [(2.60±0.44) ng/L, (2.93±0.40) ng/L] in the combined group and the control group were significantly lower than before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (t=6.339, 6.703, 3.001, 3.364, all P<0.05). After treatment, serum S-100β and GFAP levels in the combined group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (t=3.435, 4.116, all P<0.05). Conclusions Oxcarbazepine combined with Levetiracetam is superior to Oxcarbazepine alone in the treatment of children with epilepsy, as it can reduce the levels of S-100β and GFAP and is worthy of clinical application. Key words: Oxcarbazepine; Levetiracetam; Epilepsy; S-100βprotein; Glial fibrillary acidic protein