Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Surgical Treatments for Postamputation Pain
Published on: March 8, 2024
Effects of Levetiracetam and Sulthiame on EEG in benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: A randomized controlled
Moritz Tacke1, Ingo Borggraefe2, Lucia Gerstl1
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University of Munich, Germany.
Insights
Anti-convulsive treatments like Sulthiame and Levetiracetam significantly reduce EEG abnormalities in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). Persistent EEG issues indicate potential treatment failure.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epileptology
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is characterized by specific electroencephalogram (EEG) findings.
- The impact of anti-convulsive therapy on these EEG characteristics in BECTS patients is not fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of anti-convulsive treatment on EEG findings in children diagnosed with BECTS.
- To compare the efficacy of Sulthiame and Levetiracetam in modifying EEG pathology.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 43 children with BECTS.
- EEG recordings were obtained before and during treatment with Sulthiame or Levetiracetam.
- The spike-wave-index was utilized to quantify EEG pathology, comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment EEGs.
Main Results:
- Both Sulthiame and Levetiracetam significantly reduced the spike-wave-index, indicating decreased EEG pathology, irrespective of the specific drug used.
- No significant differences in EEG modification were observed between the Sulthiame and Levetiracetam treatment groups.
- Children with persistent EEG abnormalities were statistically more likely to experience recurrent seizures compared to those with normalized EEGs.
Conclusions:
- Sulthiame and Levetiracetam demonstrate a positive influence on EEG patterns in children with BECTS.
- The presence of ongoing EEG pathologies post-treatment is a significant predictor of treatment failure and potential seizure recurrence.
Purpose:
BECTS (benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes) is associated with characteristic EEG findings. This study examines the influence of anti-convulsive treatment on the EEG.
Methods:
In a randomized controlled trial including 43 children with BECTS, EEGs were performed prior to treatment with either Sulthiame or Levetiracetam as well as three times under treatment. Using the spike-wave-index, the degree of EEG pathology was quantified. The EEG before and after initiation of treatment was analyzed. Both treatment arms were compared and the EEG of the children that were to develop recurrent seizures was compared with those that were successfully treated.
Results:
Regardless of the treatment agent, the spike-wave-index was reduced significantly under treatment. There were no differences between the two treatment groups. In an additional analysis, the EEG characteristics of the children with recurrent seizures differed statistically significant from those that did not have any further seizures.
Conclusion:
Both Sulthiame and Levetiracetam influence the EEG of children with BECTS. Persistent EEG pathologies are associated with treatment failures.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:12Trial and Error and Algorithm
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview
01:16Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
01:04Random Error
01:09Random Variables
Uppercase letters such as X or Y denote a random variable. Lowercase letters like x or y denote the value of a random variable. If X is a random variable, then X is written in words, and x is given as a number.
For example, let X = the...
01:13Randomized Experiments
Simple randomization
Simple...