Effect of Levetiracetam on Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Related Quality of Life

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue II, February 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705

Effect of Levetiracetam on Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy Related Quality of Life

Asha Thomas¹, Reshma VB², Hema S^3
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Westfort College of Pharmacy
^2,3Department of Pharmaceutics, Westfort College of Pharmacy

Abstract: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy constitutes 5-10% of idiopathic generalized epileptic syndromes. This study was aimed at the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam and its effect on the quality of life of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. This study includes a total of 17 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy who were under levetiracetam treatment. Levetiracetam showed a significant reduction in seizure frequency at the review (after three months) from baseline (p=0.002). And the tolerability was assessed from the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. Headache, somnolence, dizziness, weight gain were found to be the most common side effects of levetiracetam therapy. Since the quality of life is an important treatment outcome indicator in epilepsy, the disease-specific quality of life was measured using the QOLIE-31 (18 years or older) and QOLIE-AD-48 (11 to 17 years old). The study results also showed a greater benefit with the introduction of levetiracetam as there were marked improvements in each dimension of the quality of life and also the total score.

Keywords: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, levetiracetam, HRQOL, QOLIE-31, QOLIE-AD-48

I. INTRODUCTION

Epileptic seizures and epileptic syndromes should have been high prevalence and incidence rates affecting all ages and both sexes of all races. They constitute an important part of the everyday clinical practice of general and specialist health care (Panayiotopoulos, 2007).
Epilepsy refers to a clinical phenomenon rather than a single disease entity since there are many forms and causes of epilepsy. However, among the many causes of epilepsy, there are various epilepsy syndromes. The three important epileptic syndromes are Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, Lennox-Gestaut syndrome, Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (Lowenstein, 2001)

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is idiopathic generalized epilepsy. The mean onset is around 15 years of age but may vary between 8 and 26 years. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is characterized by myoclonic jerks, predominantly in the arms. Many patients also have generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and some have absence. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy accounts for 5-11% of the adult population (Kleveland, et al,. 1998)
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy affects both male and female patients equally, although a female predominance has been described. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy etiology stems from genetics (Alfradique, 2007). A correct diagnosis of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy has an important impact on the treatment and outcome of patients. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

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