Effect of levetiracetam therapy on electrocardiographic parameters

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the electrocardiographic parameters before and at the sixth month of treatment of patients diagnosed with epilepsy and who were started on levetiracetam therapy. Methods: The files of 30 patients diagnosed with epilepsy and on levetiracetam therapy were examined in this study. Clinical findings, electroencephalography (EEG), cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiography (ECG) data before and at the sixth month of treatment were recorded. Results: The patients’ mean age was 10.93 ± 3.74 (4–17) years; 16 (53.33%) patients were boys. In total, 13 (43.3%) were found to experience focal seizures, and 17 (56.7%) generalized epilepsy-type seizures. Comparison of the ECG parameters (PR interval, QTc, QT interval, and QRS duration) revealed a shortening in the PR interval and QTc values at the sixth month of treatment, although the changes were not statistically significant. No significant differences in terms of gender and epilepsy types were observed between the ECG parameters before treatment and at the sixth month (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, levetiracetam was found to have no effect on ECG parameters.