Epilepsy research
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Inter-rater reliability of the EEG reading in patients with childhood idiopathic epilepsy.
The level of agreement in the interpretation of EEG records by different experienced readers working in three child neurology tertiary centers has been evaluated. EEG recordings randomly chosen from patients with idiopathic epilepsy were included. Optimal or suboptimal agreement was found for presence of ictal and interictal discharges. Contrary to ictal discharges, the distribution and location of interictal discharges was not unanimously interpreted and agreement was unsatisfactory when assessing the background activity.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
The KEEPER trial: levetiracetam adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in an open-label community-based study.
Three randomized, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of levetiracetam, a new antiepileptic medication, as add-on therapy for partial-onset seizures. The purpose of this study was to gather additional safety and efficacy data on levetiracetam in the real-world setting of community-based practice. ⋯ These results provide further evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam as adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Dose-response effect of levetiracetam 1000 and 2000 mg/day in partial epilepsy.
To evaluate the efficacy, dose-response, tolerability, and withdrawal effects of levetiracetam (Keppra) as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with partial epilepsy. ⋯ Levetiracetam was effective and well-tolerated and decreased seizure frequency in a dose-dependent manner, with no evidence of typical withdrawal-related adverse events or rebound phenomena after withdrawal or down-titration.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and tolerability of 1000-4000 mg per day of levetiracetam as add-on therapy in patients with refractory epilepsy.
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of 1000-4000 mg/day of levetiracetam (LEV, Keppra) as add-on treatment for refractory epilepsy. This was a dose-escalation study of 29 patients with refractory epilepsy. Patients received placebo for 4 weeks (baseline) followed by levetiracetam 1000 and 2000 mg per day each for 2 weeks, and then 3000 and 4000 mg per day each for 4 weeks. ⋯ The most common adverse events were somnolence and asthenia; frequency and severity increased with increasing doses of levetiracetam. Levetiracetam in doses from 1000 to 4000 mg per day is effective. Somnolence and asthenia were more frequent with the highest dose, suggesting that 4000 mg per day may be the upper limit in some patients, although individual susceptibility to somnolence was variable.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tiagabine given three-times daily as add-on therapy for refractory partial seizures. Northern European Tiagabine Study Group.
In a multicentre, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial, a three-times daily regimen of tiagabine was evaluated as add-on therapy in 154 adult patients with refractory partial seizures. A total of 77 patients were randomised to treatment in each arm. Tiagabine HCl was titrated from an initial dose of 12-30 mg/day over 4 weeks. ⋯ Adverse event incidence was similar between tiagabine and placebo groups, except for dizziness which was more common with tiagabine (29 versus 10%, P < 0.01). Tiagabine had no significant effects on laboratory tests or vital signs. The present study shows that tiagabine, at a dose of 10 mg administered three-times daily, which is at the lower end of the usual recommended dose range (30-50 mg/day, tiagabine base), is generally well tolerated and demonstrates efficacy for the treatment of refractory partial seizures.