Efficacy of levetiracetam on improving abnormal EEG in seizure-free epileptic children

Abstract

Objective This clinical study is aimed to investigate whether levetiracetam (LEV) can improve electrocorticogram (EEG) in epileptic children epilepsy patients with better clinical manifestation but abnormal EEG findings.Methods Totally 39 children from our neurological clinic with partial or complex partial epilepsy seizure were included in present study and assigned equally into three groups receiving different treatment:control group,sodium valproate (VPA) group,and LEV group.Their clinical symptoms had been controlled for over one year by carbamazepine ( CBZ),but EEG results showed clearly abnormal.Epileptiform discharges were observed in routine EEG exams half a month before recruiting.After recruiting,they continued to receive CBZ alone (control group) or co-treated with VPA ( VPA group) or LEV (LEVgroup),respectively.Six months later,EEG was taken again and results were analyzed.Results Improvement rate were 9.1％ ( control group),23.1％ ( VPA group),and 66.7％ (LEV group),respectively;Overall statistical difference was reached among three groups ( P＜0.01 ) and between control group and LEV group( P＜0.012 5 ),but no statistical difference between control group and VPA group was reached ( P＞0.0125).Conclusion Co-treatment of LEV in child epilepsy patients receiving CBZ can significantly decrease abnormal EEG discharge frequency during interictal period. Key words: Epilepsy; Levetiracetam; Electrocoricogram; Children