Lack of efficacy of levetiracetam and worsening of epileptic negative myoclonus

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Karkare, Shefali | Merchant, Sabiha | Solomon, Gail E.

Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Weill-Cornell Medical Center, NY, USA

Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Sabiha Merchant, 525, East 68th street, Box 91, 10021, New York, NY, USA. Tel.: +1 212 746 3278; Fax: +1 212 746 8137; E-mail: sabyha@hotmail.com

Abstract: Epileptic negative myoclonus (ENM) is an infrequent seizure type seen in association with a variety of epileptic syndromes. It has been reported to occur in benign focal epilepsies of childhood and can be worsened by a number of antiepileptic medications. Levetiracetam widely used to treat positive myoclonus in diverse clinical situations has also been reported as a therapeutic option. We report two children with partial epilepsy that demonstrated induction of ENM in one and worsening of ENM in the second patient on levetiracetam.

Keywords: Epileptic negative myoclonus, levetiracetam, child

DOI: 10.3233/JPN-2011-0461

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Neurology, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 239-242, 2011