Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index

Abstract. Levetiracetam (LEV) is one of the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AED). However, there were no studies on its efficacy and safety in terms of the correlation with epileptiform activity index (EAI) performed among the Russian population.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and tolera...

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Main Authors: V. A. Karlov, A. B. Kozhokaru, P. N. Vlasov, A. S. Samoilov, Yu. D. Udalov
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: IRBIS LLC 2020-09-01
Series:Эпилепсия и пароксизмальные состояния
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Online Access:https://www.epilepsia.su/jour/article/view/554
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author V. A. Karlov
A. B. Kozhokaru
P. N. Vlasov
A. S. Samoilov
Yu. D. Udalov
author_facet V. A. Karlov
A. B. Kozhokaru
P. N. Vlasov
A. S. Samoilov
Yu. D. Udalov
author_sort V. A. Karlov
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. Levetiracetam (LEV) is one of the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AED). However, there were no studies on its efficacy and safety in terms of the correlation with epileptiform activity index (EAI) performed among the Russian population.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of LEV monotherapy in patients with newly-diagnosed epilepsy using epileptiform activity index (EAI) assessment.Materials and methods. The study included 107 patients (46 (43.0%) male and 61 (57.0%) female) with focal epilepsy (FE) (39.3%; n=42) or idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) (60.7%; n=65). At each visit, video-electroencephalographic (video-EEG) monitoring was performed (baseline and in 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of the therapy). Therapeutic drug monitoring was performed at dose titration in 1 month of the therapy or in case of therapy correction. Treatment efficacy was assessed using the criteria of seizure absence (medically induced remission), seizure rate decrease by >50% (responders), seizure rate decrease by <50% – insufficient efficacy, a composite index of efficacy/tolerability (retention on treatment), and seizure rate increase compared to baseline and/or development of a new type of seizures (aggravation). Adverse events (AE) were assessed using the scale for side effects in AED treatment (SIDAED).Results. Total EAI at baseline was 5.2-fold higher in patients with IGE compared to FE patients (23.4±3.0 and 4.5±0.97, respectively). After 1 month of LEV therapy, EAI decreased to 3.4±1.1 and 1.9±0.4 in patients with IGE and FE, respectively (p<0.01). The decrease continued during the whole follow-up period. Retention on monotherapy was achieved in 82.2% (n=88/107) patients; in 87.6% (n=57/65) patients with IGE and in 73.8% (n=31/42) with FE. The rate of serious AEs during the follow-up period was 8.4% (n=9).Conclusions. LEV is an effective drug of choice for the initial treatment of newly-diagnosed FE and IGE in monotherapy along with a significant decrease in EAI. EAI is an objective measure of LEV treatment efficacy.
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spelling doaj-art-91de32f5ee88477484f168deff5a6efc2025-08-20T02:54:04ZrusIRBIS LLCЭпилепсия и пароксизмальные состояния2077-83332311-40882020-09-011229310410.17749/2077-8333/epi.par.con.2020.024491Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity indexV. A. Karlov0A. B. Kozhokaru1P. N. Vlasov2A. S. Samoilov3Yu. D. Udalov4A. I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and DentistryState Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological AgencyA. I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and DentistryState Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological AgencyState Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological AgencyAbstract. Levetiracetam (LEV) is one of the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AED). However, there were no studies on its efficacy and safety in terms of the correlation with epileptiform activity index (EAI) performed among the Russian population.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of LEV monotherapy in patients with newly-diagnosed epilepsy using epileptiform activity index (EAI) assessment.Materials and methods. The study included 107 patients (46 (43.0%) male and 61 (57.0%) female) with focal epilepsy (FE) (39.3%; n=42) or idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) (60.7%; n=65). At each visit, video-electroencephalographic (video-EEG) monitoring was performed (baseline and in 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of the therapy). Therapeutic drug monitoring was performed at dose titration in 1 month of the therapy or in case of therapy correction. Treatment efficacy was assessed using the criteria of seizure absence (medically induced remission), seizure rate decrease by >50% (responders), seizure rate decrease by <50% – insufficient efficacy, a composite index of efficacy/tolerability (retention on treatment), and seizure rate increase compared to baseline and/or development of a new type of seizures (aggravation). Adverse events (AE) were assessed using the scale for side effects in AED treatment (SIDAED).Results. Total EAI at baseline was 5.2-fold higher in patients with IGE compared to FE patients (23.4±3.0 and 4.5±0.97, respectively). After 1 month of LEV therapy, EAI decreased to 3.4±1.1 and 1.9±0.4 in patients with IGE and FE, respectively (p<0.01). The decrease continued during the whole follow-up period. Retention on monotherapy was achieved in 82.2% (n=88/107) patients; in 87.6% (n=57/65) patients with IGE and in 73.8% (n=31/42) with FE. The rate of serious AEs during the follow-up period was 8.4% (n=9).Conclusions. LEV is an effective drug of choice for the initial treatment of newly-diagnosed FE and IGE in monotherapy along with a significant decrease in EAI. EAI is an objective measure of LEV treatment efficacy.https://www.epilepsia.su/jour/article/view/554idiopathic epilepsygenetic generalized epilepsyfocal epilepsyepileptiform activity indexlevetiracetamefficacytolerability
spellingShingle V. A. Karlov
A. B. Kozhokaru
P. N. Vlasov
A. S. Samoilov
Yu. D. Udalov
Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index
Эпилепсия и пароксизмальные состояния
idiopathic epilepsy
genetic generalized epilepsy
focal epilepsy
epileptiform activity index
levetiracetam
efficacy
tolerability
title Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index
title_full Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index
title_fullStr Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index
title_short Efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly-diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index
title_sort efficacy assessment of levetiracetam monotherapy in newly diagnosed epilepsy in adults using epileptiform activity index
topic idiopathic epilepsy
genetic generalized epilepsy
focal epilepsy
epileptiform activity index
levetiracetam
efficacy
tolerability
url https://www.epilepsia.su/jour/article/view/554
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