[P2-119] The Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam as Anticonvulsant in Children with Brain Tumor: A Single Center Experience in Taiwan
[Introduction]: The purpose is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam as an anticonvulsant in children with brain tumor.
[Methods]: We retrospectively reviewed children with brain tumors (age, <18 years) who used levetiracetam as an anticonvulsant during a two-year period.
[Results]: Ten children were enrolled with 5 male patients and 5 female patients. Seizure was the initial symptom in 6 patients (60%), while 3 of them (30%) had headache and vomiting as the presenting symptoms, whereas the remaining 1 patient (10%) presented with ipsilateral weakness. All the brain tumors were located at supratentorial r
region. 8 of the patients underwent surgical intervention, with 3 cases (37.5%) proved as astrocytoma by final pathology, 2 cases (25%) with meningioma, 2 cases (25%) with cavernous hemangioma and 1 case (12.5%) of gliosis. The follow-up period was > 12 months. Among these children, 7 (70%) had good responses (seizure reduction rate, ≧ 50%) at 12 months, including four patients (40%) who were seizure free. Only 2 patients (20%) had side effects.
[Conclusions]: Levetiracetam is an effective and safe anticonvulsant for children with brain tumors with seizures.
[Methods]: We retrospectively reviewed children with brain tumors (age, <18 years) who used levetiracetam as an anticonvulsant during a two-year period.
[Results]: Ten children were enrolled with 5 male patients and 5 female patients. Seizure was the initial symptom in 6 patients (60%), while 3 of them (30%) had headache and vomiting as the presenting symptoms, whereas the remaining 1 patient (10%) presented with ipsilateral weakness. All the brain tumors were located at supratentorial r
region. 8 of the patients underwent surgical intervention, with 3 cases (37.5%) proved as astrocytoma by final pathology, 2 cases (25%) with meningioma, 2 cases (25%) with cavernous hemangioma and 1 case (12.5%) of gliosis. The follow-up period was > 12 months. Among these children, 7 (70%) had good responses (seizure reduction rate, ≧ 50%) at 12 months, including four patients (40%) who were seizure free. Only 2 patients (20%) had side effects.
[Conclusions]: Levetiracetam is an effective and safe anticonvulsant for children with brain tumors with seizures.