Citation

Belcastro V, Costa C, Galletti F, Autuori A, Pierguidi L, Pisani F, Calabresi P, Parnetti L. Epilepsy Res. 2008; 82(2-3): 223-226.

Affiliation

Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2008.08.008

PMID

18829259

Abstract

Levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy was investigated in 35 patients (pts) (16M/19F, 71.9+/-7.3 years of age) with late-onset post-stroke seizures (i.e. seizures occurring at least 2 weeks after an ischemic stroke) in a prospective open-label study. Overall, 27 pts (77.1%) achieved a condition of seizure freedom (defined as 1 year without seizures): 19 (54.3%) at a daily LEV dose of 1000mg, 7 (20.0%) at 1500mg, 1 (2.8%) at 2000mg. Four pts (11.4%) discontinued the drug because of intolerable side effects (drowsiness associated to gait disturbance in 1 pt, and aggressive behaviour in the remaining 3 pts); 3 pts were unresponsive at a dose of 3000mg, and 1 pt was lost at follow-up. These observations suggest that LEV exhibits safety and efficacy profiles which make it an optimal candidate as a first-choice drug against post-stroke seizures.

Language: en