Neurocognitive effects of adjunctive levetiracetam in children with partial-onset seizures: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, noninferiority trial.

Purpose: Evaluate potential neurocognitive effects of adjunctive levetiracetam in children with inadequately controlled partial-onset seizures (POS).

Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, noninferiority safety study. Children (4-16 years; IQ > or =65) with > or =1 POS during 4 weeks before screening despite taking 1-2 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were randomized (2:1) to levetiracetam (20-60 mg/kg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks.

Results: Ninety-nine patients were randomized with 98 (levetiracetam 64, placebo 34) in intent-to-treat (ITT) and 73 (levetiracetam 46, placebo 27) in per protocol (PP) populations. Primary cognitive assessment was the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised Attention and Memory Battery with the memory screen composite score change from baseline as the primary endpoint. PP Least Square Mean [LSM (standard error)] were 5.36 (1.78) for levetiracetam; 5.17 (2.33) for placebo; difference [two-sided 90% confidence interval (CI)] 0.19 (-4.69, 5.08). Levetiracetam was noninferior to placebo because the 90% CI lower bound was greater than the defined noninferiority margin (-9.0). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning-2 indexes and Leiter-R Examiner's Rating Scale scores. Median reductions from baseline in weekly POS frequency were 91.5% versus 26.5% for levetiracetam versus placebo; > or =50% responder rates: 62.5% versus 41.2%; seizure freedom rates: 46.9% versus 8.8% (ITT). Adverse events were reported by 89.1% levetiracetam-treated and 85.3% placebo-treated patients; those reported by > or =10% levetiracetam patients and more often with levetiracetam were headache, nasopharyngitis, fatigue, vomiting, somnolence, and aggression.

Discussion: Neurocognitive effects were no different in pediatric patients with POS treated with adjunctive levetiracetam or placebo. Levetiracetam was effective and well tolerated.