Affiliations: Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacist, Inova
Alexandria Hospital, Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia, USA | Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Residency
Coordinator, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children; Rockland Road, Wilmington,
DE, USA | Department of Neurology, Division Chief Neurology,
Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE,
USA
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Elora Hilmas, Pharm.D., BCPS, Department of
Pharmacy, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, 19803,
Wilmington, DE, USA. Tel.: +1 302 651 5791; Fax: +1 302 651 5301; E-mail:
ehilmas@nemours.org
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate if levetiracetam (LEV)
is an effective agent in the treatment of status epilepticus (SE) in children,
evaluate the dosing of LEV being used, and to record the incidence of adverse
effects. A retrospective chart review was done for patients who had received
LEV for the treatment of SE and grand mal seizure at a 180-bed academic
pediatric teaching hospital. Patients met inclusion criteria if they had
received LEV for the treatment of SE, and if the dose, administration time, and
administration route were documented in their charts. The primary outcome was
the rate of seizure cessation attributed to treatment with LEV. Additional data
collected included overall rate of seizure cessation regardless of agent used,
rate of seizure cessation based on age, type of seizure(s) experienced, history
of intractable seizures, and where in the sequence of therapy LEV was used. A
total of 20 of 51 patients met inclusion criteria and treatment with LEV
resulted in seizure cessation in 15 patients (75%). The average dose received
by patients was 37.5 mg/kg (range: 16–98.8 mg/kg) as an intravenous
bolus. The adverse effects experienced were similar to what is described in the
literature. LEV may be a successful first line or adjunct treatment for
pediatric patients in SE regardless of the patients' age, type of seizure, or
history of intractable epilepsy. It also appears to be a safe treatment option.
Optimal dosing still needs to be defined.
