Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam during 1-year follow-up in patients with refractory epilepsy.
Levetiracetam (LEV) is a new antiepileptic drug shown to be effective for the treatment of partial seizures in pivotal clinical trials. We investigated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of LEV as add-on therapy, regardless of seizure type, especially in persons who would not be eligible for clinical trials due to factors such as mental retardation and concomitant psychiatric disorders. ⋯ Levetiracetam appears to be well tolerated in patients with severe epilepsy and shows efficacy in a long-term follow-up. Behavioral adverse events were noted in a small number of patients and occurred mainly in patients who had a history of behavioral disturbance or were mentally retarded. These data from an open population are consistent with the findings of clinical trials.
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Intravenous access cannot always be promptly obtained when treating status epilepticus outside the hospital. We compared the efficacy and safety of diazepam rectal gel to IV lorazepam in our long-term care facility for adults with developmental disabilities. Diazepam rectal gel was given more quickly and reliably, reducing total seizure time, potential neuronal injury and other complications. A treatment protocol for treating status epilepticus with diazepam rectal gel is given.
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We report a girl with refractory partial seizures since 7 years of age, secondary to right frontal cortical dysplasia, who developed MRI and SPECT abnormalities in the contralateral hemicerebellar cortex. These became more marked, leading to left hemicerebellar atrophy. ⋯ It is usually a transient phenomenon. This report shows that crossed cerebellar diaschisis can develop within two years of seizure onset and evolve over time.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparative audit of intravenous lorazepam and diazepam in the emergency treatment of convulsive status epilepticus in children.
There is little evidence on which to judge the optimal treatment for convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in children. This study compares the effect of intravenous (iv) lorazepam with iv diazepam as the first line of treatment of CSE. We studied all children with prolonged seizures arriving in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department in two separate periods. ⋯ There were no differences between the two groups regarding age, sex and seizure type. The seizure was successfully controlled 15 minutes after siting the iv cannula in 11 (65%) patients treated with diazepam (median time of 3 minutes) and in 20 (65%) patients treated with lorazepam (median time of 5 minutes). These preliminary results suggest that iv lorazepam may be as effective as iv diazepam.