Long-term effect of Levetiracetam in Unverricht-Lundborg disease: An open clinical study in 13 patients

Myoclonus is the main invalidating symptom of Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD), and levetiracetam (LEV) appears as an effective anticonvulsant with promising short-term antimyoclonic properties. Its chronic effects in ULD have not been reported. LEV has been prescribed as add-on treatment to 13 patients with ULD, 2 women and 11 men, aged 14 to 52 years, (mean 36.5) and its efficacy was retrospectively analysed on seizure frequency and on myoclonus. The average myoclonus score significantly changed from 3.1 to 2.4 (p= 0.01). LEV was well tolerated in all but one patient.