Keppra

The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was first described by Hinchey's group in 1996 as a reversible vasogenic brain edema on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Hypertension represents the most frequent manifestation associated with PRES. In the present report, we present a patient diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received 3 cycles of a 5-fluoruracil plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen and developed PRES after the third cycle. Several days after receiving the second cycle of FOLFOX chemotherapy, the patient started having episodes of hypertensive crisis (systolic pressure = 180, diastolic pressure = 100), that was controlled with amlodipine, irbesartan, and hydrochlorothiazide...

BACKGROUND: Drugs that increase inhibitory neuronal activity in the brain have been proposed as potential medications for stimulant use disorders. OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed the ability of chronically administered levetiracetam (Keppra®), a clinically available anticonvulsant drug that increases GABA by binding to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A, to modulate the reinforcing strength of cocaine in monkeys. METHODS: Three adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) self-administered cocaine intravenously each day under a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule of reinforcement...

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A 3-year-old, previously healthy girl started having clusters of seizures, not responsive to multiple antiepileptic medications. High-dose prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin could partially control the seizures. Lumbar puncture and CT were normal. An MRI showed right hemispheric injury and atrophy compatible with clinical suspicion of Rasmussen encephalitis. Neurological 18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated asymmetric hypermetabolic activity in the right frontal and parietal lobes compatible with active inflammation...

BACKGROUND: Symplastic hemangioma is a benign superficial abnormal buildup of blood vessels, with morphological features which can mimic a pseudo malignancy. A few cases have been reported in the literature. We report here, a unique case of calvarial symplastic hemangioma, which is the first case in the calvarial region. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old male patient, with a left occipital calvarial mass since childhood, that gradually increased in size with age, was associated with recurrent epileptic fits controlled by Levetiracetam (Keppra), with no history of trauma...

PURPOSE: To explore associations between the characteristics of people with epilepsy (PWE) and their attitudes toward generic substitution of antiseizure drugs (ASDs) in epilepsy. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey study directed at adults with epilepsy using selected brand drugs: Keppra®, Lamictal®, Lyrica® or Topimax®. Symptoms of anxiety and depression, sense of self-efficacy, and beliefs about medicines were assessed. Caregivers were asked to answer for persons with intellectual or communicative difficulties...

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the results of a second cycle audit of the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam (Keppra® ) and an updated literature review of management of seizures in palliative care patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature review on the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam performed in 2016 was updated. A retrospective audit of the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam for inpatients at Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice during the period of 2019-2020 was performed. Ethical approval was not required and was therefore not sought...

BACKGROUND: Convulsive status epilepticus is the most common neurological emergency in children. Its management is important to avoid or minimise neurological morbidity and death. The current first-choice second-line drug is phenytoin (Epanutin, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA), for which there is no robust scientific evidence. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether phenytoin or levetiracetam (Keppra, UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium) is the more clinically effective intravenous second-line treatment of paediatric convulsive status epilepticus and to help better inform its management...

The amount of freely available human phenotypic data is increasing daily, and yet little is known about the types of inferences or identifying characteristics that could reasonably be drawn from that data using new statistical methods. One data type of particular interest is electroencephalographical (EEG) data, collected noninvasively from humans in various behavioral contexts. The Temple University EEG corpus associates thousands of hours of de-identified EEG records with contemporaneous physician reports that include metadata that might be expected to show a measurable correlation with characteristics of the recorded signal...

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical characteristics common among epileptic patients prescribed levetiracetam who report suicidal ideation or who exhibit suicidal behavior. A case is also provided that highlights the need for increased vigilance for neuropsychiatric sequelae in fragile epileptic patients prescribed levetiracetam, especially post dosage adjustment. DATA SOURCES: PubMed was queried with no time limitation to December 2018 using a combination of controlled terms...

Management of new-onset refractory status epilepticus and the approach to burst suppression variable is often challenging. We present the unusual case of a previously healthy 18-year-old male with new-onset status epilepticus admitted to the neurologic intensive care unit for 70 days. Despite treatment with multiple anti-epileptic drugs in addition to IV anesthetics, burst suppression was initially unsustainable and the patient remained in super-refractory status epilepticus. Extensive evaluation revealed an underlying autoimmune-mediated etiology with positivity for glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 antibody...

PURPOSE: Current synaptic vesicle 2A (SV2A) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents include the nanomolar affinity probes [11 C]UCB-J and [18 F]UCB-H derived from the anti-epileptic drug levitaracetam (Keppra®). An industry-utilized "de-risking" approach was used to carry out initial pharmacological characterization and to assess potential next-generation candidates amenable to F-18 radiolabeling for preliminary evaluation. PROCEDURES: Radioligand binding methods were employed in mammalian brain homogenates to determine the SV2A affinity (Kd ) and maximal binding capacity (Bmax ) of [3 H]UCB-J...

We report a case of anti-voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) limbic encephalitis in a 47-year-old man presenting with a 2-year history of psychiatric features. The patient had cognitive impairment, slurred speech, and a mildly unsteady gait but no other neurological deficits or seizures. Results of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid tests and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain were normal. However, electroencephalography showed an epileptogenic focus in the bilateral temporal regions with mild to moderate diffuse encephalopathy...

BACKGROUND: Improved quality of life (QoL) is one of the most important objectives in the treatment of epilepsy. Recent prospective, clinical studies proved no significant differences between brand antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and their generic equivalents in terms of seizure control, pharmacokinetics, or safety. In this study, we focused on possible changes in QoL and adverse events in connection with generic substitution of levetiracetam (LEV). METHODS: This was a prospective, naturalistic, two-cohort, twin-center study...

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine if education material targeting children would improve understanding of medication indication, administration, and common side effects in pediatric subjects. METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study included students 7 to 11 years old from a suburban elementary school. Study participants were read either the US Food and Drug Administration-approved adult medication leaflet or a pediatric medication leaflet created at a first-grade reading level for levetiracetam (Keppra, UCB, Inc, Atlanta, GA)...

This is a brain aspergilloma case in an immunocompetent patient who suffered from a rare fungal infection transmitted from the mediastinum to the brain and eventually caused pancreatitis. This fungal infection affected the thalamus, hypothalamus, and extended to the midbrain. This case showed a good prognosis for the brain aspergilloma without need for any surgical intervention. The radiological documentation for the brain aspergilloma shows a positive response to a combination of voriconazole and Keppra.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of long-term disability. Early onset post-traumatic seizures (PTS) after traumatic injury to the brain is a strong predictor of adverse outcomes in these patients. Our study investigates the role of Keppra in early PTS prophylaxis compared to no treatment, taking into account risk factors including injury severity, seizure history, and anti-epileptic drug (AED) use. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study based on patient chart data from January 2013 to January 2017 at a level one trauma center in the United States...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether switching from branded levetiracetam (Keppra® ) to a levetiracetam generic equivalent product (Matever® ) in an epilepsy cohort could provide adequate results in terms of seizure control and tolerability. METHODS: To be eligible for the study, patients had to have been taking Keppra® as monotherapy or polytherapy for at least 6 months. Between March 2013 and April 2017, patients were invited to switch to Matever® as part of their follow-up...

OBJECTIVES: Generic antiepileptic drugs represent a measure to maximize cost saving. Levetiracetam (LEV) is one of most commonly used and effective antiepileptic drugs. The objective of our work was to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of overnight switch from monotherapy with Keppra (original drug) to epitiram (generic drug) at the same dose. METHODS: In our observational study, we consecutively enrolled 37 seizure-free patients with epilepsy who expressed the wish to switch to a generic drug for economic reasons...

OBJECTIVES: To report the results of a combined case series analysis of subcutaneous levetiracetam (Keppra) for the management of seizures in palliative care patients. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review on the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam was performed, and these data were combined with a prospective observational audit of its use in terminal care undertaken in a regional palliative care network. RESULTS: 7 papers were identified from the literature review-four case reports and three observational case series-reporting on a total of 53 cases where subcutaneous levetiracetam was administered...