Antiepileptic drugs used for the treatment of neonatal seizures have limited efficacy
and undesirable side effects, leading to increased off-label use in neonates. Intravenous
levetiracetam became available in August 2006 for use in patients above 16 years of
age. Insufficient data are available about the efficacy and safety of intravenous
levetiracetam in neonates. Data captured from our institution's electronic medical
records were retrospectively analyzed for neonates treated with intravenous levetiracetam
between January 2007 and December 2009. Data were acquired by reviewing our electronic
medical records. Twenty-two patients received a levetiracetam load of 10-50 mg/kg
for neonatal seizures. Nineteen of 22 patients (86%) demonstrated immediate seizure
cessation at 1 hour. Seven of 22 patients (32%) achieved complete seizure cessation
after administration of the loading dose, 14 (64%) achieved seizure cessation by 24
hours, 19 (86%) by 48 hours, and all 22 (100%) by 72 hours. No serious side effects
were evident. Nineteen patients (86%) were discharged on oral levetiracetam, and only
two patients (9%) were discharged with an additional oral antiepileptic drug. Intravenous
levetiracetam can be used as monotherapy and adjunctively in acute seizure management
during the neonatal period.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 10,
2010
Received:
July 29,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
