Abstract
The main objective of this study was to assess the efficacy, safety, and retention rates of levetiracetam monotherapy in children with epilepsy. A retrospective review of pediatric patients receiving levetiracetam monotherapy at 2 large tertiary epilepsy centers over an 11-year period was conducted. One hundred two patients using levetiracetam monotherapy with a mean age of 13.1 years were identified. For the entire cohort, a 6-month retention rate was 61.1% and a 12-month retention rate 53.1%. With regard to seizure freedom, 46.8% of those patients that remained on monotherapy for at least 6 months became seizure free. Twelve-month seizure freedom was reached by 41.2%. About one-third (32.4%) of patients reported adverse effects, with irritability, moodiness, and depression being the most common. Despite a number of patients that reported adverse events, levetiracetam monotherapy was found to be potentially effective in this cohort of children with epilepsy and warrants further, prospective studies.
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