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Neurologia May 2023No formal indication currently exists for seizure prophylaxis in neurosurgical oncology patients. Neither have specific recommendations been made on the use of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
No formal indication currently exists for seizure prophylaxis in neurosurgical oncology patients. Neither have specific recommendations been made on the use of antiepileptic drugs (AED) in seizure-free patients with meningiomas scheduled for surgery. AEDs are generally prescribed on a discretionary basis, taking into consideration a range of clinical and radiological risk factors. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the effectiveness of antiepileptic prophylaxis in patients with meningioma and no history of seizures.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and clinicaltrials.gov databases. Of a total of 4368 studies initially identified, 12 were selected for extraction of data and qualitative analysis. Based on the clinical data presented, we were only able to include 6 studies in the meta-analysis. We performed heterogeneity studies, calculated a combined odds ratio, evaluated publication bias, and conducted a sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS
AED prophylaxis in patients with meningioma and no history of seizures did not significantly reduce the incidence of post-operative seizures in comparison to controls (Mantel-Haenszel combined odds ratio, random effects model: 1.26 [95% confidence interval, 0.60-2.78]; 2041 patients). However, we are unable to establish a robust recommendation against this treatment due to the lack of prospective studies, the presence of selection bias in the studies reviewed, the likelihood of underestimation of seizure frequency during follow-up, and the strong influence of one study on the overall effect.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the limitations of this review, the results of the meta-analysis do not support the routine use of seizure prophylaxis in patients with meningioma and no history of seizures.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Phenytoin; Anticonvulsants; Incidence; Meningeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 35781420
DOI: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2022.03.002 -
Neurology Jan 2023Early life epilepsies are common and often debilitating, but no evidence-based management guidelines exist outside of those for infantile spasms. We conducted a...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Early life epilepsies are common and often debilitating, but no evidence-based management guidelines exist outside of those for infantile spasms. We conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness and harms of pharmacologic and dietary treatments for epilepsy in children aged 1-36 months without infantile spasms.
METHODS
We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for studies published from January 1, 1999, to August 19, 2021. Using prespecified criteria, we identified studies reporting data on children aged 1-36 months receiving pharmacologic or dietary treatments for epilepsy. We did not require that studies report etiology-specific data. We excluded studies of neonates, infantile spasms, and status epilepticus. We included studies administering 1 of 29 pharmacologic treatments and/or 1 of 5 dietary treatments reporting effectiveness outcomes at ≥ 12 weeks. We reviewed the full text to find any subgroup analyses of children aged 1-36 months.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria (6 randomized studies, 2 nonrandomized comparative studies, and 15 prestudies/poststudies). All conclusions were rated low strength of evidence. Levetiracetam leads to seizure freedom in some infants (32% and 66% in studies reporting seizure freedom), but data on 6 other medications were insufficient to permit conclusions about effectiveness (topiramate, lamotrigine, phenytoin, vigabatrin, rufinamide, and stiripentol). Three medications (levetiracetam, topiramate, and lamotrigine) were rarely discontinued because of adverse effects, and severe events were rare. For diets, the ketogenic diet leads to seizure freedom in some infants (rates 12%-37%), and both the ketogenic diet and modified Atkins diet reduce average seizure frequency, but reductions are greater with the ketogenic diet (1 RCT reported a 71% frequency reduction at 6 months for ketogenic diet vs only a 28% reduction for the modified Atkins diet). Dietary harms were not well-reported.
DISCUSSION
Little high-quality evidence exists on pharmacologic and dietary treatments for early life epilepsies. Future research should isolate how treatments contribute to outcomes, conduct etiology-specific analyses, and report patient-centered outcomes such as hospitalization, neurodevelopment, functional performance, sleep quality, and patient and caregiver quality of life.
TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION
This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021220352) on March 5, 2021.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Child; Humans; Lamotrigine; Levetiracetam; Topiramate; Spasms, Infantile; Quality of Life; Epilepsy; Anticonvulsants; Diet, Ketogenic
PubMed: 36270899
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000201026 -
Seizure Nov 2022Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are extensively used to manage epilepsy and other comorbidities associated with seizures. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) has a strong... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are extensively used to manage epilepsy and other comorbidities associated with seizures. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) has a strong association with AED-induced severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify, critically evaluate, and synthesize the best possible evidence on HLA-associated AED-induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN).
METHODS
MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched for literature from inception up to July 2022. We included case control studies analyzing association between HLA and AED-induced SJS/TEN. We assessed the studies' risk of bias in using Quality of genetic studies (Q-genie) tool. Outcomes focused on association (risk) between HLA and AED-induced SJS/TEN. The estimated risk was presented in the form of odds ratio (OR).
RESULTS
We included 37 studies (51,422 participants; 7027 cases and 44,395 controls). There was a significantly higher risk of Carbamazepine-induced SJS/TEN with HLA-A (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.17), HLA-B (OR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.45 to 2.58), HLA-C (OR: 7.83; 95% CI: 4.72 to 12.98), and HLA-DRB1 (OR: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.94 to 4.12). Lamotrigine-induced SJS/TEN posed a higher risk with HLA-A (OR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.26 to 4.46) and HLA-B (OR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.75 to 4.46). Phenytoin-induced SJS/TEN showed a higher risk with HLA-A (OR: 3.47; 95% CI: 2.17 to 5.56), HLA-B (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.38 to 2.15), and HLA-C (OR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.77 to 4.83). Phenobarbital-induced SJS/TEN had a higher risk with HLA-A (OR: 6.98; 95% CI: 1.81 to 26.84), HLA-B (OR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.39 to 4.17), and HLA-C (OR: 3.37; 95% CI: 1.03 to 11.01). Zonisamide-induced SJS/TEN was significantly associated with HLA-A*02:07 (OR: 9.77; 95% CI: 3.07 to 31.1), HLA-B*46:01 (OR: 6.73; 95% CI: 2.12 to 21.36), and HLA-DRB1×08:03 (OR: 3.78; 95% CI: 1.20 to 11.97). All other alleles of HLA were observed to have a non-significant association with AED-induced SJS/TEN. All included studies were of good quality, with a score of >50 and a mean score of 54.96 out of 77.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed a significant association between few variants of HLA alleles and AED-induced SJS/TEN. Evidences from our study could help in population-based studies and in implementation of individualized treatment regimens. These findings could be part of translational research helping in precision therapy.
Topics: Humans; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome; HLA-DRB1 Chains; HLA-C Antigens; Asian People; HLA-B Antigens; Anticonvulsants; HLA Antigens
PubMed: 36183454
DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2022.09.011 -
Neuro-oncology Practice Oct 2021Comprehensive data on the efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs (AED) treatment in glioma patients with epilepsy are currently lacking. In this systematic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Comprehensive data on the efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs (AED) treatment in glioma patients with epilepsy are currently lacking. In this systematic review, we specifically assessed the efficacy of AEDs in patients with a grade II-IV glioma.
METHODS
Electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched up to June 2020. Three different outcomes for both mono- and polytherapy were extracted from all eligible articles: (i) seizure freedom; (ii) ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency; and (iii) treatment failure. Weighted averages (WA) were calculated for outcomes at 6 and 12 months.
RESULTS
A total of 66 studies were included. Regarding the individual outcomes on the efficacy of monotherapy, the highest seizure freedom rate at 6 months was with phenytoin (WA = 72%) while at 12-month pregabalin (WA = 75%) and levetiracetam (WA = 74%) showed highest efficacy. Concerning ≥50% seizure reduction rates, levetiracetam showed highest efficacy at 6 and 12 months (WAs of 82% and 97%, respectively). However, treatment failure rates at 12 months were highest for phenytoin (WA = 34%) and pregabalin (41%). When comparing the described polytherapy combinations with follow-up of ≥6 months, levetiracetam combined with phenytoin was most effective followed by levetiracetam combined with valproic acid.
CONCLUSION
Given the heterogeneous patient populations and the low scientific quality across the different studies, seizure rates need to be interpreted with caution. Based on the current limited evidence, with the ranking of AEDs being confined to the AEDs studied, levetiracetam, phenytoin, and pregabalin seem to be most effective as AED monotherapy in glioma patients with epilepsy, with levetiracetam showing the lowest treatment failure rate, compared to the other AEDs studied.
PubMed: 34589231
DOI: 10.1093/nop/npab030 -
Acute Medicine & Surgery 2022Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurological emergency. There is insufficient evidence regarding which antiepileptic therapy is most effective in patients... (Review)
Review
AIM
Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurological emergency. There is insufficient evidence regarding which antiepileptic therapy is most effective in patients with benzodiazepine-refractory convulsive SE. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate intravenous phenytoin (PHT) and other intravenous antiepileptic medications for SE.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans up to August 2019. We compared outcomes between intravenous PHT and other intravenous medications. The important primary composite outcomes were the successful clinical cessation of seizures, mortality, and neurological outcomes at discharge. The reliability of the level of evidence for each outcome was compared using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.
RESULTS
A total of 1,103 studies were identified from the databases, and 10 RCTs were included in the analysis. The ratio of successful clinical seizure cessation was significantly lower (risk ratio [RR] 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.97) for patients treated with intravenous PHT than with other medications. When we compared mortality and neurological outcomes at discharge, we observed no significant differences between patients treated with PHT and those treated with other medications. The RRs were 1.07 (95% CI, 0.55-2.08) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.72-1.15) for mortality and neurological outcomes at discharge, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings showed that intravenous PHT was significantly inferior to other medications in terms of the cessation of seizures. No significant differences were observed in mortality or neurological outcomes between PHT and other medications.
PubMed: 35028156
DOI: 10.1002/ams2.717 -
The Canadian Journal of Hospital... 2022Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurologic emergency with potential for substantial mortality and morbidity. Parenteral benzodiazepine is the established first-line... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurologic emergency with potential for substantial mortality and morbidity. Parenteral benzodiazepine is the established first-line treatment but fails to control SE in about one-third of patients. Levetiracetam may be used for SE that is refractory to benzodiazepine therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine, by means of a systematic review, the role of IV levetiracetam for the treatment of SE in adults.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases were searched, from inception to August 18, 2020.
STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION
Included in this review were prospective randomized controlled trials comparing levetiracetam with another antiepileptic drug, given with or after a benzodiazepine, in adult patients with SE. The primary outcome was cessation of SE. Quality of evidence was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Characteristics of the included studies were reported using descriptive statistics.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Five studies compared IV levetiracetam with valproic acid, phenytoin (or its prodrug fosphenytoin), or both. All 5 studies found no statistically significant differences in efficacy or safety end points. There were numerically more cases of hypotension and respiratory failure with phenytoin, and more cases of psychiatric adverse effects (e.g., post-ictal psychosis) with levetiracetam.
CONCLUSIONS
Available evidence suggests that levetiracetam is as effective as valproic acid or phenytoin for the cessation of SE in adults. Other factors should therefore dictate the choice of antiepileptic drug for patients with SE, such as adverse effect profile, logistics of administration, drug cost, inclusion on hospital formularies, and drug availability.
PubMed: 34987263
DOI: 10.4212/cjhp.v75i1.3254 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Aug 2019More than three million persons are disabled by leprosy worldwide. The main complication of sensory nerve damage is neuropathic ulceration, particularly of the feet. In... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
More than three million persons are disabled by leprosy worldwide. The main complication of sensory nerve damage is neuropathic ulceration, particularly of the feet. In this review we explored interventions that can prevent and treat secondary damage to skin and limbs.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of self-care, dressings and footwear in preventing and healing secondary damage to the skin in persons affected by leprosy.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register (April 2008), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2008), MEDLINE (from 2003 to April 2008), EMBASE (from 2005 to April 2008), CINAHL (1982-2006) and LILACS (1982- April 2008 ) as well as online registers of ongoing trials (April 2008).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials involving anyone with leprosy and damage to peripheral nerves treated with any measures designed to prevent damage with the aim of healing existing ulcers and preventing development of new ulcers.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors assessed trial quality and extracted data.
MAIN RESULTS
Eight trials with a total of 557 participants were included. The quality of the trials was generally poor. The interventions and outcome measures were diverse. Although three studies that compared zinc tape to more traditional dressings found some benefit, none of these showed a statistically significant effect. One trial indicated that topical ketanserin had a better effect on wound healing than clioquinol cream or zinc paste, RR was 6.00 (95% CI 1.45 to 24.75). We did not combine the results of the two studies that compared topical phenytoin to saline dressing, but both studies found statistically significant effects in favour of phenytoin for healing of ulcer (SMD -2.34; 95% CI -3.30 to -1.39; and SMD -0.79; 95% CI -1.20 to 0.39). Canvas shoes were not much better than PVC-boots, and double rocker shoes did not promote healing much more than below-knee plasters.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
One study suggested that topical ketanserin is more effective than clioquinol cream or zinc paste. Topical phenytoin (two studies) may be more effective than saline dressing regarding ulcer healing. For the other dressings the results were equivocal. Canvas shoes were a little better than PVC-boots, but not significantly, and the effect of double rocker shoes compared to below-knee plasters was no different in promoting the healing of ulcers. No side effects were documented.There is a lack of high quality research in the field of ulcer prevention and treatment in leprosy. New trials should follow the current standards for design and reporting of randomised controlled trials.
PubMed: 31425616
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004833.pub4 -
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology &... Jun 2023Data on the ability of anticonvulsants and lithium to enter fetal and newborn circulation has become increasingly available; here we estimated penetration ratios in a...
OBJECTIVE
Data on the ability of anticonvulsants and lithium to enter fetal and newborn circulation has become increasingly available; here we estimated penetration ratios in a series of matrices from combined samples of pregnant/breastfeeding women treated with anticonvulsants or lithium.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed/EMBASE for studies with concentrations of anticonvulsants/lithium from maternal blood, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and/or breast milk. Penetration ratios were calculated by dividing the concentrations in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord plasma or breast milk by the maternal concentrations. When data from multiple studies were available, we calculated combined penetration ratios, weighting studies' mean by study size.
RESULTS
Ninety-one eligible studies for brivaracetam, carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lacosamide, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, lithium, oxcarbazepine, perampanel, phenobarbital, phenytoin, pregabalin, primidone, topiramate, valproate, vigabatrin and zonisamide were identified. For amniotic fluid, the highest penetration ratios were estimated for levetiracetam (mean 3.56, range 1.27-5.85, n = 2) and lowest for valproate (mean 0.11, range 0.02-1.02, n = 57). For umbilical cord plasma, oxcarbazepine had the highest ratio (mean 1.59, range 0.11-4.33, n = 12) with clonazepam having the lowest (mean 0.55, range 0.52-0.59, n = 2). For breast milk, the highest ratios were observed for oxcarbazepine (mean 3.75, range 0.5-7.0, n = 2), whereas the lowest were observed for valproate (mean 0.04, range 0.01-0.22, n = 121).
DISCUSSION
We observed substantial variability between anticonvulsants and lithium regarding their ability to enter fetal/newborn circulation. Assessing concentrations of anticonvulsants and lithium in maternal samples can provide a surrogate of fetal/infant exposure, although patterns of concentration-dependent effects for maternal/neonatal safety are lacking.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Amniotic Fluid; Anticonvulsants; Fetal Blood; Lithium; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Milk, Human
PubMed: 36805301
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110733 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2019This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2001, and last updated in 2013. This review is one in a series of Cochrane Reviews investigating pair-wise... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2001, and last updated in 2013. This review is one in a series of Cochrane Reviews investigating pair-wise monotherapy comparisons.Epilepsy is a common neurological condition in which abnormal electrical discharges from the brain cause recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is believed that with effective drug treatment, up to 70% of individuals with active epilepsy have the potential to become seizure-free and go into long-term remission shortly after starting drug therapy with a single antiepileptic drug in monotherapy.Worldwide, particularly in the developing world, phenytoin and phenobarbitone are commonly used antiepileptic drugs, primarily because they are inexpensive. The aim of this review is to summarise data from existing trials comparing phenytoin and phenobarbitone.
OBJECTIVES
To review the time to treatment failure, remission and first seizure with phenobarbitone compared with phenytoin when used as monotherapy in people with focal onset seizures (simple or complex focal and secondarily generalised), or generalised onset tonic-clonic seizures (with or without other generalised seizure types).
SEARCH METHODS
For the latest update, we searched the following databases on 21 August 2018: the Cochrane Register of Studies (CRS Web), which includes Cochrane Epilepsy's Specialized Register and CENTRAL; MEDLINE; the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (ClinicalTrials.gov); and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). We handsearched relevant journals and contacted pharmaceutical companies, original trial investigators, and experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing monotherapy with either phenobarbitone or phenytoin in children or adults with focal onset seizures or generalised onset tonic-clonic seizures.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
This was an individual participant data (IPD), review. Our primary outcome was time to treatment failure. Our secondary outcomes were time to first seizure post-randomisation, time to six-month remission and time to 12-month remission. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to obtain trial-specific estimates of hazard ratios (HRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using the generic inverse variance method to obtain the overall pooled HR and 95% CI.
MAIN RESULTS
Individual participant data were obtained for five studies, which recruited a total of 635 participants, representing 80% of 798 individuals from all seven identified eligible trials. For remission outcomes, an HR of less than 1 indicates an advantage for phenytoin and for first seizure and treatment failure outcomes an HR of less than 1 indicates an advantage for phenobarbitone.Results for the primary outcome of the review were: time to treatment failure for any reason related to treatment (pooled HR adjusted for seizure type for 499 participants: 1.61, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.12, low-certainty evidence), time to treatment failure due to adverse events (pooled HR adjusted for seizure type for 499 participants: 1.99, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.87, low-certainty evidence), time to treatment failure due to lack of efficacy (pooled HR adjusted for seizure type for 499 participants: 1.87, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.66, moderate-certainty evidence), showing a statistically significant advantage for phenytoin compared to phenobarbitone.For our secondary outcomes, we did not find any statistically significant differences between phenytoin and phenobarbitone: time to first seizure post-randomisation (pooled HR adjusted for seizure type for 624 participants: 0.85, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.06, moderate-certainty evidence), time to 12-month remission (pooled HR adjusted for seizure type for 588 participants: 0.90, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.19, moderate-certainty evidence), and time to six-month remission pooled HR adjusted for seizure type for 588 participants: 0.91, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.15, moderate-certainty evidence).For individuals with focal onset seizures (73% of individuals contributing to analysis), numerical results were similar and conclusions the same as for analyses of all individuals and for individuals with generalised onset seizures (27% of individuals contributing to analysis), results were imprecise and no clear differences between the drugs were observed.Several confounding factors, most notably the differences in design of the trials with respect to blinding, were likely to have impacted on the results of the primary outcome 'time to treatment failure', and in turn, the treatment failure rates may have impacted on the secondary efficacy outcomes of time to first seizure and time to 12-month and six-month remission.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Low-certainty evidence from this review suggests that phenytoin may be a more effective drug than phenobarbitone in terms of treatment retention (treatment failures due to lack of efficacy or adverse events or both). Moderate-certainty evidence from this review also indicates no differences between the drugs in terms of time to seizure recurrence and seizure remission.However, the trials contributing to the analyses had methodological inadequacies and methodological design differences that may have impacted upon the results of this review. Therefore, we do not suggest that results of this review alone should form the basis of a treatment choice for a patient with newly onset seizures. We recommend that future trials should be designed to the highest quality possible with consideration of masking, choice of population, classification of seizure type, duration of follow-up, choice of outcomes and analysis, and presentation of results.
PubMed: 31425629
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002217.pub3 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020To evaluate efficacy, safety, and economics profiles of intravenous levetiracetam (LEV) for status epilepticus (SE).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate efficacy, safety, and economics profiles of intravenous levetiracetam (LEV) for status epilepticus (SE).
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, and OpenGrey.eu for eligible studies published from inception to June 12 2019. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effect model to calculate odds ratio (OR) of included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with RevMan 5.3 software.
RESULTS
A total of 478 studies were obtained. Five systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses, 9 RCTs, 1 non-randomized trial, and 27 case series/reports and 1 economic study met the inclusion criteria. Five SRs indicated no statistically significant difference in rates of seizure cessation when LEV was compared with lorazepam (LOR), phenytoin (PHT), or valproate (VPA). Pooled results of included RCTs indicated no statistically significant difference in seizure cessation when LEV was compared with LOR [OR = 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37 to 2.92], PHT (OR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.27), and VPA (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.67); and no statistically significant difference in seizure freedom within 24 h compared with LOR [OR = 1.83, 95% CI 0.57 to 5.90] and PHT (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.87). Meanwhile, LEV did not increase the risk of mortality during hospitalization compared with LOR (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.31 to 3.39), PHT (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.37 to 2.10), VPA (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 0.32 to 5.07), and placebo (plus clonazepam, OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.16 to 3.38). LEV had lower need for artificial ventilation (OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.92) and a lower risk of hypotension (OR = 0.15, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.84) compared to LOR. A trend of lower risk of hypotension and higher risk of agitation was found when LEV was compared with PHT. Case series and case report studies indicated psychiatric and behavioral adverse events of LEV. Cost-effectiveness evaluations indicated LEV as the most cost-effective non-benzodiazepines anti-epileptic drug (AED).
CONCLUSIONS
LEV has a similar efficacy as LOR, PHT, and VPA for SE, but a lower need for ventilator assistance and risk of hypotension, thus can be used as a second-line treatment for SE. However, more well-conducted studies to confirm the role of intravenous LEV for SE are still needed.
PubMed: 32670054
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00751