Efficacy and safety of levetiracetam in the management of seizures in neonates

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) in the management of seizures in neonates. METHODS A prospective non-blind, single arm clinical trial conducted in the Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Mohamad Kermanshahi, and Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran from May 2014 to December 2014. Fifty out of 60 newborns with gestational age >/=30 weeks with clinically diagnosed seizures were included. Levetiracetam was administered orally with an initial dose of 10 mg/kg twice a day. The patients were observed continuously by Neuro Intensive Care nurses, and visited daily by a neuropediatrician in the first 7 days and then at days 14, 30, and 90 after the start of LEV administration. Clinical examination was performed for every patient, and seizure number, antiepileptic medication, and adverse events were detailed at every visit. RESULTS 47 infants were seizure free under LEV at the end of the first week, 47 remained seizure free at 4 weeks, and 46 remained seizure free at 11 weeks. No immediate and long-term side effects were noted in our patients. CONCLUSION This study investigated the efficacy and safety of LEV in neonatal seizure control but confirmation with further randomized controlled trials is required.