[Successful treatment of epilepsy and circadian rhythm disturbance with levetiracetam in a patient with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA)].

Abstract

We report a 21-year-old male patient with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) showing progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME), who responded to levetiracetam (LEV) at an initial dose of 1,000 mg/day. The patient developed epilepsy at the age of 10 years, and also showed intellectual regression. Various antiepileptic drugs showed no effects on generalized tonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, and myoclonus. Addition of LEV (1,000 mg/day) led to the reduction of myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures, and improved the EEG and sleep-wake rhythm. He had a better appetite and gain weight. It is suggested that LEV may improve quality of life in patients with DRPLA, in addition to reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures.

• Authors: Shigeaki Hamada, Seishi Shimakawa, Shigeko Satomura, Etsuo Naito, Toshiaki Hashimoto
• Journal: No to hattatsu = Brain and development (No To Hattatsu) Vol. 46 Issue 6 Pg. 439-42 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 0029-0831 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 25558587 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Levetiracetam
• Piracetam

Topics

• Anticonvulsants (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Circadian Rhythm (drug effects)
• Electroencephalography (drug effects)
• Humans
• Levetiracetam
• Male
• Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive (complications, drug therapy, etiology)
• Piracetam (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Young Adult