OBJECTIVES: To evaluate levetiracetam (LEV) tolerability in patients with epilepsy and liver disease. METHODS: Fourteen patients with epilepsy and concomitant liver disease were treated with LEV in an open prospective investigation mimicking the daily clinical practice. All patients were stabilized (ie, for at least 1 year) on traditional antiepileptic drugs with complete or partial control of seizures. In the 6-month pre-LEV baseline period, seizure frequency ranged from 3 to 300. Levetiracetam was added on to the basal treatment at a starting daily dose of 250 mg, and the dose was adjusted according to the tolerability and the therapeutic response. Four patients discontinued the drug within the first 3 months because of intolerable side effects. The remaining 10 continued LEV treatment, and the present follow-up is 12 to 38 months. RESULTS: In the last 6 months of observation, none of the patients showed worsening of liver function on the basis of blood chemistry, and in 4 patients, a complete normalization or a trend toward physiological values of transaminase and/or gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was observed. A greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency occurred in all uncontrolled patients, 2 of whom achieved seizure freedom during LEV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these observations, LEV seems to be an attractive therapeutic option in epileptic patients with chronic liver diseases.

Levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy and chronic liver disease: observations in a case series / Bilo, Leonilda; Meo, R; de Leva, Mf; DE SIMONE, Roberto; Di Nocera, P; Pisani, F; Striano, Salvatore. - In: CLINICAL NEUROPHARMACOLOGY. - ISSN 0362-5664. - ELETTRONICO. - 31:4(2008), pp. 221-225. [10.1097/WNF.0b013e31815c1d92]

Levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy and chronic liver disease: observations in a case series.

BILO, LEONILDA;DE SIMONE, ROBERTO;STRIANO, SALVATORE
2008

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate levetiracetam (LEV) tolerability in patients with epilepsy and liver disease. METHODS: Fourteen patients with epilepsy and concomitant liver disease were treated with LEV in an open prospective investigation mimicking the daily clinical practice. All patients were stabilized (ie, for at least 1 year) on traditional antiepileptic drugs with complete or partial control of seizures. In the 6-month pre-LEV baseline period, seizure frequency ranged from 3 to 300. Levetiracetam was added on to the basal treatment at a starting daily dose of 250 mg, and the dose was adjusted according to the tolerability and the therapeutic response. Four patients discontinued the drug within the first 3 months because of intolerable side effects. The remaining 10 continued LEV treatment, and the present follow-up is 12 to 38 months. RESULTS: In the last 6 months of observation, none of the patients showed worsening of liver function on the basis of blood chemistry, and in 4 patients, a complete normalization or a trend toward physiological values of transaminase and/or gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was observed. A greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency occurred in all uncontrolled patients, 2 of whom achieved seizure freedom during LEV treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these observations, LEV seems to be an attractive therapeutic option in epileptic patients with chronic liver diseases.
2008
Levetiracetam in patients with epilepsy and chronic liver disease: observations in a case series / Bilo, Leonilda; Meo, R; de Leva, Mf; DE SIMONE, Roberto; Di Nocera, P; Pisani, F; Striano, Salvatore. - In: CLINICAL NEUROPHARMACOLOGY. - ISSN 0362-5664. - ELETTRONICO. - 31:4(2008), pp. 221-225. [10.1097/WNF.0b013e31815c1d92]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/373697
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