Continuation rates of levetiracetam in children from the EULEVp cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Since indication extension to children data regarding the effectiveness of levetiracetam in paediatric patients remains limited.

AIMS

Investigate the real-life effectiveness of levetiracetam in paediatric patients.

METHODS

Epileptic children (<16 years) who had initiated levetiracetam between 1 October 2006 and 31 March 2007 were included and followed for 1 year by hospital or non-hospital neurologists practising in France.

RESULTS

Among the 156 identified children, 147 were analysed: 51.7% were female, and mean (SD) age was 9.2 years (4.2). Most patients had either partial symptomatic (30.6%) or partial cryptogenic (26.5%) epilepsy, 92.5% experienced seizures during the 6 months preceding levetiracetam initiation, and 19.2% were on levetiracetam alone at initiation. One-year levetiracetam continuation rate was estimated to be 72.0% (95%CI [63.8; 78.6]). Of the 104 children continuing levetiracetam treatment at end of study, 31.7% were seizure-free during the last six months of follow-up, and 23.1% on levetiracetam alone. Discontinuation of levetiracetam (n = 41) was mainly for insufficient efficacy (58.5% of those concerned).

CONCLUSIONS

In real-life clinical practice important treatment retention and non-negligible reduction of seizure frequency may be expected.