Abstracts

Rationale: To evaluate tolerability and efficacy with add-on levetiracetam (LEV) therapy in drug-resistant partial epilepsy.Methods: A total of 67 adult epileptic patients (mean age 41.1 ± 15.0 SD old, 51% men, 49% female) were included for adjunctive therapy with LEV, receiving 1 or 2 concomitant antiepileptic drugs, suffering complex partial seizures (mean 12/month, (40%) clustering and secondarily generalized seizures( mean 3.5/month). All patients were followed for 12 months to compare with previous 3 months baseline. Primary parameters were adverse events rate, retention rate, reduction in seizure frequency, responder rate, and changes in quality of life (QOLIE-10-P). AEDs combinations included LEV plus oxcarbazepine (18%), lamotrigine (16%), gabapentin (15%) and topiramate (15%).Results: A total of 7 AEs (1 moderate and 6 severe), all related to LEV, occurred in 5 patients (7.5%) as somnolence (3), allergic reaction (1), dermatitis (1), hallucination (1), and aggressive condition (1). Retention rate was 72%, and median seizure frequency decreased from 4/month at baseline to 1/month during the last 3 months of observation. The responder rate (≥50% seizure reduction) was 63%, with a total of 10% seizure free rate, 50% cluster seizure free rate, and 92% secondarily generalized seizure free rate. Baseline scores of QOLIE-10-P showed a median increase of 5 points, and 57% of patients experienced a remarkable improvement.Conclusions: Levetiracetam appears to be well tolerated (92.5%), with a good therapeutic profile (72%), improving the patient quality of life and general condition (57%).