Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam treatment for neonatal seizures in extremely preterm infants
Abstract
Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on extremely premature newborns, those who were born ≤28 weeks of gestational age, and took their first intravenous dose of levetiracetam due to neonatal seizure before their 44th gestational week between September 2017-February 2019. Loading and maintenance dosage of LEV, previously used antiepileptic medications, response to treatment and side effects of LEV were recorded.
Results: Twenty extremely preterm neonates (9 males and 11 females) who received LEV were evaluated. Gestational ages ranged from 23 to 28 weeks, with a median of 26.5 weeks. Birth weights ranged from 520-1210 gr and 15 infants (75%) had extremely low birth weights. For the treatment of seizures, 12 patients (60 %) were initially started on levetiracetam as first-line therapy and eight patients (40%) were administered levetiracetam as a second or third-line antiepileptic drug. The efficiency of seizure control with LEV was 60 % (12/20) in all patients. The median LEV dose at the time seizure control was achieved was 40 mg/kg. No side effects were observed due to LEV treatment.
Conclusion: This study shows that LEV can be efficient and safe for seizure management in extremely preterm infants. Seizure control was better achieved when LEV was given as the first-line antiepileptic medication in extremely preterm infants.
Keywords
References
- 1. Ahrens S, Ream MA, Slaughter LA. Status Epilepticus in the Neonate: Updates in Treatment Strategies. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2019;2:8-22.
- 2. Khan O, Cipriani C, Wright C, Crisp E, Kirmani B. Role of intravenous levetiracetam for acute seizure management in preterm neonates. Pediatr Neurol. 2013;49:340-3.
- 3. Booth D, Evans DJ. Anticonvulsants for neonates with seizures. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004(4):CD004218.
- 4. Kurtom W, Courchia B, Pensirikul A, Sosenko I, Del-Moral T. Lack of response to treatment with levetiracetam in extreme preterm infants with seizures. J Perinatol. 2019;39:1480-4.
- 5. Ghosh S, Cabassa Miskimen AC, Brady J, Robinson MA, Zou B, Weiss M, et al. Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 9-14 months gestational age after treatment of neonatal seizures due to brain injury. Childs Nerv Syst. 2019;35:1571-8.
- 6. Ben-Ari Y, Holmes GL. Effects of seizures on developmental processes in the immature brain. Lancet Neurol. 2006;5:1055-63.
- 7. Pisani F, Facini C, Pelosi A, Mazzotta S, Spagnoli C, Pavlidis E. Neonatal seizures in preterm newborns: A predictive model for outcome. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2016;20:243-51.
- 8. Kohelet D, Shochat R, Lusky A, Reichman B, Israel Neonatal N. Risk factors for neonatal seizures in very low birthweight infants: population-based survey. J Child Neurol. 2004;19:123-8.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Intensive Care
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Leman Tekin Orgun
0000-0002-6533-8358
Türkiye
Publication Date
May 1, 2020
Submission Date
April 21, 2020
Acceptance Date
May 30, 2020
Published in Issue
Year 2020 Volume: 4 Number: 5