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Levetiracetam for the treatment of neonatal seizures

Michael T Shoemaker1, Joshua S Rotenberg

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas 78236, USA.

Journal of Child Neurology
|July 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Levetiracetam shows promise for treating neonatal seizures, particularly in low-birth-weight infants. This study found it safe and effective as monotherapy in three infants, offering a potential alternative to phenobarbital.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Neurology
  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

  • Neonatal seizures are common, especially in low-birth-weight infants, with limited data on standard anticonvulsant efficacy and safety.
  • Concerns exist regarding phenobarbital's potential adverse effects on long-term infant development.
  • Levetiracetam is approved for older children and adults but lacks published data in infants.

Observation:

  • This report details the use of levetiracetam in three infants (2 days to 3 months old) with refractory seizures or intolerance to other medications.
  • The study focused on evaluating levetiracetam's safety and efficacy in this specific infant population.
  • Patients received levetiracetam as monotherapy for their seizure management.

Findings:

  • All three infants achieved seizure freedom with levetiracetam monotherapy.
  • No adverse effects were observed in the infants during the study period.
  • Levetiracetam demonstrated both safety and efficacy in this small cohort of infants.

Implications:

  • Levetiracetam may represent a viable and well-tolerated alternative for neonatal seizure management.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in larger infant populations.
  • This study contributes crucial preliminary data on levetiracetam use in neonates and young infants.

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