The Effect of Intermittent Oral Anticonvulsant Levetiracetam in Prevention of Recurrence of Febrile Seizure in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Background & Objective: Febrile seizure (FS) is the most common childhood seizure disorder that occurs in ۳-۴% of children .The aim of this study was to determine the effect of intermittent oral anticonvulsant Levetiracetam in prevention of the recurrence of febrile seizure (FS) in children.  Materials & Methods: This a randomized clinical trial study was conducted on ۱۰۸ children with FS referred to the pediatric department of Mohammad Kermanshahi Hospital in Kermanshah in ۲۰۲۰. Then, eligible patients were divided into intervention (Levetiracetam; n= ۷۲) and control (Acetaminophen; n= ۳۶) groups using balanced block randomization. The intervention group received a dose of ۳۰-۶۰ mg/kg Levetiracetam during the febrile illness for prophylaxis for ۹ months. In contrast, in the control group, only acetaminophen was prescribed just to reduce fever. Finally, the number of FS recurrences were studied in two groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS ۲۶.  Results:  The mean (±S.D) age were ۲.۳۷ (±۱.۰۱) vs. ۲.۳۰ (±۰.۹۵) years in the intervention and control groups; respectively. The number (%) of boys in the two groups under study was ۳۹ (۵۴.۱) and ۱۹ (۵۲.۷), respectively. The mean time to first seizure recurrence after the intervention was significantly longer in the intervention group (۵.۷۰ ± ۰.۸۲ months) than in the control group (۲.۳۲ ± ۰.۷۵ months) (P-Value<۰.۰۵). Also, the mean number of recurrences of FS in the intervention group (۲.۲۵ ± ۰.۸۰) was significantly lower than the control group (۴.۱۳ ± ۰.۷۹) (P-Value<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The administration of oral anticonvulsant Levetiracetam may be effective in the reduction of the recurrences of FS, however, detailed studies in this field is recommended.

کلیدواژه ها:

Levetiracetam ، Recurrence ، Febrile seizure ، Children ، Clinical trial study