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Continuation rates of levetiracetam in children from the EULEVp cohort study
Caroline Dureau-Pournin1, Jean-Michel Pédespan2, Cécile Droz-Perroteau3
1Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux F-33076, France; INSERM CIC-P 0005, Bordeaux F-33076, France.
Insights
Levetiracetam shows good retention and seizure reduction in children with epilepsy. This real-world study confirms its effectiveness in pediatric patients, offering valuable insights for clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Pharmacovigilance
Background:
- Limited data exists on levetiracetam effectiveness in pediatric epilepsy patients.
- Extending treatment indications to children requires robust real-world evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the real-life effectiveness and treatment outcomes of levetiracetam in pediatric epilepsy patients.
- To assess levetiracetam's continuation rates and seizure control in children.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of epileptic children under 16 years initiated on levetiracetam was followed for one year.
- Data collected by neurologists in France from October 2006 to March 2007.
- Analysis included treatment continuation, seizure freedom, and reasons for discontinuation.
Main Results:
- The one-year levetiracetam continuation rate was 72.0%.
- Among those continuing treatment, 31.7% were seizure-free in the last six months.
- Insufficient efficacy was the primary reason for levetiracetam discontinuation (58.5%).
Conclusions:
- Levetiracetam demonstrates important treatment retention in pediatric epilepsy.
- A non-negligible reduction in seizure frequency can be expected in real-world clinical practice.
- The study supports levetiracetam's utility as a therapeutic option for childhood epilepsy.
Background:
Since indication extension to children data regarding the effectiveness of levetiracetam in paediatric patients remains limited.
Aims:
Investigate the real-life effectiveness of levetiracetam in paediatric patients.
Methods:
Epileptic children (<16 years) who had initiated levetiracetam between 1 October 2006 and 31 March 2007 were included and followed for 1 year by hospital or non-hospital neurologists practising in France.
Results:
Among the 156 identified children, 147 were analysed: 51.7% were female, and mean (SD) age was 9.2 years (4.2). Most patients had either partial symptomatic (30.6%) or partial cryptogenic (26.5%) epilepsy, 92.5% experienced seizures during the 6 months preceding levetiracetam initiation, and 19.2% were on levetiracetam alone at initiation. One-year levetiracetam continuation rate was estimated to be 72.0% (95%CI [63.8; 78.6]). Of the 104 children continuing levetiracetam treatment at end of study, 31.7% were seizure-free during the last six months of follow-up, and 23.1% on levetiracetam alone. Discontinuation of levetiracetam (n = 41) was mainly for insufficient efficacy (58.5% of those concerned).
Conclusions:
In real-life clinical practice important treatment retention and non-negligible reduction of seizure frequency may be expected.
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