Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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Lamotrigine (LTG) is increasingly being prescribed in pregnancy for women with epilepsy in place of valproate (VPA), because of the teratogenic risks associated with the latter. It is therefore important to know the teratogenic hazard associated with LTG, relative to VPA and to other commonly used antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Data from the Australian Register of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy was examined to determine the incidence of teratogenicity determined 1 year from completion of pregnancy in women who took AEDs in monotherapy during pregnancy. ⋯ Logistic regression analysis showed no tendency for foetal hazard to increase with increasing LTG dose in pregnancy, unlike the situation for VPA. However, seizure control in pregnancy tended to be not as good in the women taking LTG compared with those taking VPA, though the data examined were not adequate to permit definite conclusions regarding this matter. We conclude that LTG monotherapy in pregnancy is safer than valproate monotherapy from the point of view of foetal malformations, and no more hazardous in this regard than therapy with other commonly used AEDs.
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To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Serbian-language version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31). ⋯ Serbian adaptation of the QOLIE-31 questionnaire is reliable and valid for assessing the quality of life in patients with epilepsy.
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No large studies till date are available from India on post-traumatic seizures (PTS). ⋯ The risk of PTS was higher in patients who sustained fall from height, in GCS<9, and associated medical problems. About 1/3rd of the patients with early PTS developed recurrent delayed seizures.
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At present, neonatal seizures are usually treated with Phenobarbital (PB) despite the limited efficacy and the potential risk this treatment holds for the developing brain. We report here a prospective pilot feasibility study on the use of Levetiracetam as monotherapy in the treatment of neonatal seizures. ⋯ Results from our small patient group indicate that LEV may be an alternative therapeutic option in neonatal seizures.
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To determine the utility and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) compared to phenytoin (PHT) in preventing clinical seizures in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). ⋯ In patients with SAH, LEV appears to have superior tolerability compared to PHT.