Levetiracetam and Valproate Retention Rate in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

BACKGROUND: Valproic acid (VPA) is an effective treatment in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), but concerns on its use during pregnancy are remarkable. Levetiracetam (LEV) is approved as second-line therapy, and used as monotherapy in clinical practice. Our objective was to analyze the outcome of LEV and VPA in JME. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed patients with JME attending our epilepsy unit between 2010 and 2014, including all patients treated with LEV and/or VPA at some point of the disease course. The primary end point was drug retention rate in monotherapy after the final analysis. RESULTS: We identified 58 patients (62% women). All had myoclonic seizures, 86% had generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) before the diagnosis, and 9% also had absences. All had generalized spike and wave on the interictal electroencephalogram, and 86% of them also had generalized polyspike and wave discharges. In total, LEV monotherapy was maintained in 15 (65%) of 23 patients, and VPA was maintained in 37 (74%) of 50 patients (P = 0.062). In women younger than 35 years, LEV had a similar retention rate with VPA (P = 0.939). More VPA patients achieved seizure freedom during follow-up (P < 0.01), whereas LEV patients showed a trend toward higher myoclonic freedom (0.085). CONCLUSIONS: Levetiracetam showed lower retention rate than VPA, primarily due to poorer seizure control during long-term follow-up. More LEV patients achieved myoclonic seizure freedom than VPA patients. In women younger than 35 years, LEV and VPA had comparable retention rate; therefore, LEV could be a good option for women with JME with prominent myoclonic seizures.