Lack of response to treatment with levetiracetam in extreme preterm infants with seizures

Objectivethe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of monotherapy with levetiracetam (lev) in achieving seizure cessation in a retrospective cohort of extreme preterm infants with seizures.study designcharts of infants with a diagnosis of neonatal seizures admitted to the nicu between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. seizures were diagnosed using continuous video electroencephalography. all infants were initially started on lev and reached a dose of 80 mg/kg/day. other asms were added to lev if seizures continued after 2 days. data on additional clinical variables were collected for each infant.resultsixty-one infants born <28 weeks of gestation met inclusion criteria. seventy-four percent of patients did not respond to lev monotherapy and required additional medications.conclusionslev monotherapy stopped seizures in only a small portion of cases.