[P2-120] Efficacy of levetiracetam in epilepsy with electrical status epilepticus during slow wave sleep (ESES)
[Introduction] Levetiracetam(LEV) has a licensed indication for epilepsy of focal seizures with or without secondary generalization. Some reports have suggested that LEV may be useful for ESES. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of LEV on the EEG findings and impaired cognition in children with ESES. [Methods] We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children with cognitive impairment associated with ESES who received LEV. [Results] Five patients (three females and two males), aged 5-15 years, were included in this study. Onset age of epilepsy ranged from 4 to 7 years, with two patients who had already ESES pattern on EEG. The duration from onset to initiation of LEV varied from 4 months to 4 years and 7 months. There was no patient with intracranial lesion such as focal cortical dysplasia and polymicrogyria. All patients had focal seizures at the onset of epilepsy, and three patients became seizure-free before the initiation of LEV. Four patients showed improvement in EEG findings, behavior and neuropsychological problems. Two patients who had seizures (complex focal seizure/complex focal seizure with secondary generalization, and atypical absence) became seizure-free after LEV treatment. Other antiepileptic drugs could be discontinued in three patients. [Conclusion] Our retrospective observations suggest that LEV potentially has beneficial effects on abnormal EEG, the behavior problems, and the impaired cognition of patients with epilepsy and ESES.