Supporting Data docx 15KB

The Effect Of Levetiracetam Therapy On Electrocardiography Parameters

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the electrocardiography (ECG) parameters before and at the sixth month of treatment of patients diagnosed with epilepsy and started on levetiracetam therapy. Methods: The files of 30 patients diagnosed with epilepsy started on levetiracetam therapy were examined in this study. Cases’ clinical findings, electroencephalography (EEG), cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiography data before and at the sixth month of treatment were recorded. Results: The patients’ mean age was 10.93±3.74 (4-17) years. Sixteen (53.33%) patients were boys and 14 (46.7%) were girls. Thirteen (43.3%) were found to experience focal seizures, and 17 (56.7%) generalized epilepsy-type seizures. Comparison of the ECG parameters (PR interval, QTc, and peak heart rate) revealed a shortening in the PR interval and QTc values at the sixth month of treatment and a decrease in the peak heart rate, although the changes were not statistically significant. No significant gender difference was observed between the ECG parameters before treatment and at the sixth month. No significant difference was also determined in terms of epilepsy types and ECG parameters before and at the sixth month of treatment (P>0.005). Conclusion: In this study, levetiracetam was found to have no effect on ECG parameters.
Keywords: Epilepsy; Levetiracetam; Electrocardiography