Levetiracetam Monotherapy For The Treatment Of Febrile and Febrile Induced Seizures

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of levetiracetam monotherapy in the management of different febrile seizure types and febrile induced seizures in children.

Methods: The data of cases who had febrile and febrile induced seizures and given levetiracetam therapy between 2013-2019 in the pediatric neurology department were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, age of febrile seizure, age of levetiracetam therapy, levetiracetam treatment duration and dosage, febrile seizure family history, seizure type, electroencephalography, adverse effect and response to levetiracetam.

Results: A total of 64 patients, 45 male and 19 female, were included in the study (n=35; febrile seizure, n=15; febrile induced seizure, n=14; febrile status epilepticus). The reasons for giving treatment in our patients with febrile seizures were complex (n=26, 74.2%) and recurrent febrile seizures (n=9; 25.8%). The median age of levetiracetam therapy was 18.5 months (3-116) and the median duration use was 30 months (5-84). Of the 64 patients, 51 (79.6%) patients were seizure free. Seventy-four percent of the patients (26 of 35) with febrile seizure, 85.7% (12 of 14) febrile status epilepticus and 86.6% (13 of 15) febrile induced seizure were seizure free. Levetiracetam median dosage was 20 mg/ kg/ per day (10-45). No hematological or biochemical nor behavioral adverse side effects except irritability in one patient were observed.

Conclusion: Our study showed that levetiracetam was an effective, well tolerated and safe agent for the treatment of febrile induced seizures, febrile status epilepticus and recurrent febrile seizures.
Keywords: febrile seizure, levetiracetam, febrile induced seizure, febrile status epilepticus