ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the 2-year retention rates and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV), Lamotrigine(LTG), and Oxcarbazepine(OXC) in pediatric patients with epilepsy.Methods 310 pediatric patients with epilepsy were included in this study: LEV (n=145), LTG (n=101), and OXC (n=64). The clinical efficacy, first discontinuation time and discontinuation reasons were recorded and compared. The retention rates at 12, 24, 52 and 104 weeks were evaluated. Results At the two-year follow up:Clinical efficacy didn't significantly differ among the three groups (P = 0.190); The 2-year retention rates for LEV, LTG, and OXC, were 68.28%, 72.28%, and 48.44%, respectively (P = 0.002). LEV and LTG had equivalent retention rates, whereas OXC retention was significantly inferior to the LEV and LTG retention (P<0.05). The common reasons for drug discontinuation were adverse effects (47.66%) and lack of efficacy (42.10%), while the rate of adverse effects leading to drug withdrawal of OXC (66.77%) was higher than that of LEV (36.96%, P = 0.003) and LTG (42.86%, P = 0.023). Conclusion These results suggested that LEV, LTG and OXC had similar clinical efficacy. LEV and LTG had comparable retention profiles and long-term tolerability in the 2-year treatment, while OXC therapy seemed to be relatively less useful. If there are no specific contradictions, pediatric patients with epilepsy could be better receiving LEV and LTG antiepileptic treatment.