| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 9
| Issue : 2 | Page : 115-120 |
Neuropsychological implications of adjunctive levetiracetam in childhood epilepsy
Annio Posar1, Grazia G Salerno2, Morena Monti3, Margherita Santucci1, Maria C Scaduto4, Antonia Parmeggiani5
1 IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
2 Child Neurology Unit, S. Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy
3 Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Infermi Hospital, Rimini, Italy
4 IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
5 Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Correspondence Address:
Annio Posar
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna
Italy
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1817-1745.139282
Introduction: Levetiracetam (LEV) is an effective antiepileptic drug also used in childhood and adolescence. Literature data regarding the long-term effects of LEV in childhood epilepsy and based on extensive neuropsychological evaluations using standardized tools are still scanty. Our study aimed to address this topic. Materials and Methods: We studied 10 patients with epilepsy characterized by focal or generalized seizures (4 boys, 6 girls; mean age: 10 years 8 months; range: 6 years 2 months - 16 years 2 months), treated with adjunctive LEV during a follow-up of 12 months. In 6 patients electroencephalogram (EEG) showed continuous spike and waves during sleep. Using standardized tools, we performed seriated assessments of cognitive and behavioral functioning in relation to seizure and EEG outcome. Results: Six patients completed the trial after 12 months of treatment; 1 patient dropped out of the study after 9 months, 3 patients after 6 months. Adjunctive LEV was effective on seizures in 3/10 patients and on EEG in 2/10 patients, and was well tolerated in all examined cases. Overall, no worsening of cognitive or behavioral functions has been detected during the period of the study; even at 6 and 12 months from baseline, an improvement in patients' abstract reasoning has been found, that was not related to seizure or EEG outcome. Conclusions: In our population of children and adolescents, LEV had no adverse cognitive or behavioral effects, short- or long-term. We found an improvement of abstract reasoning, regardless of seizure and EEG outcome.
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