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Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy: More Trials Are Needed to Guide Therapy
| Content Provider | Scilit |
|---|---|
| Author | Abou-Khalil, Bassel W. |
| Copyright Year | 2009 |
| Description | Journal: Epilepsy currents Levetiracetam for the Treatment of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy with Myoclonic Seizures. Noachtar S, Andermann E, Meyvisch P, Andermann F, Gough WB, Schiemann-Delgado J, For the N166 Levetiracetam Study Group. Neurology 2008;70:607–616. Background Currently, there are no published randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of adjunctive antiepileptic therapy in idiopathic generalized epilepsy with myoclonic seizures. Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial assessed the efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive treatment with levetiracetam 3,000 mg/day in adolescents (12 years) and adults (65 years) with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, who experienced myoclonic seizures on 8 days during a prospective 8-week baseline period, despite antiepileptic monotherapy. The 8-week baseline period was followed by 4-week up-titration, 12-week evaluation, and 6-week down-titration/conversion periods. Results Of 122 patients randomized, 120 (levetiracetam, n = 60; placebo, n = 60) were evaluable. Diagnoses were either juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (93.4%) or juvenile absence epilepsy (6.6%). A reduction of 50% in the number of days/week with myoclonic seizures was seen in 58.3% of patients in the levetiracetam group and in 23.3% of patients in the placebo group ( p < 0.001) during the treatment period. Levetiracetam-treated patients were more likely to respond to treatment than patients receiving placebo (OR = 4.77; 95% CI, 2.12 to 10.77; p < 0.001). Levetiracetam-treated patients had higher freedom from myoclonic seizures (25.0% vs 5.0%; p = 0.004) and all seizure types (21.7% vs 1.7%; p < 0.001) during the evaluation period. The only adverse events more frequent with levetiracetam were somnolence and neck pain. Conclusion These results suggest that levetiracetam is an effective and well-tolerated adjunctive treatment for patients with previously uncontrolled idiopathic generalized epilepsy with myoclonic seizures. |
| Related Links | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2668107/pdf |
| Ending Page | 11 |
| Page Count | 2 |
| Starting Page | 10 |
| ISSN | 15357597 |
| e-ISSN | 15357511 |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1535-7511.2008.01274.x |
| Journal | Epilepsy currents |
| Issue Number | 1 |
| Volume Number | 9 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Publisher Date | 2009-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Journal: Epilepsy currents Psychiatry and Mental Health Generalized Epilepsy Idiopathic Generalized Myoclonic Seizures |
| Content Type | Text |
| Subject | Neurology (clinical) |
