This systematic review and meta-analysis combined data from 4,070 patients aged 16 years or younger with epilepsy. The researchers looked at levetiracetam used either alone or alongside other treatments. They compared these results against placebo or other active antiseizure medications.
The study found that levetiracetam was associated with higher rates of seizure freedom and better responder rates when compared to placebo. The difference in seizure freedom was 11.0%, and the difference in responder rates was 24.3%.
However, when compared to other active medications already used to treat epilepsy, levetiracetam showed no overall advantage. The analysis noted substantial differences between the studies, frequent high risk of bias, and variable follow-up durations. Specific safety data were not reported in the results.
Readers should understand that while levetiracetam works better than placebo, it does not consistently outperform established treatments for pediatric epilepsy. The evidence has limitations that prevent strong conclusions about long-term outcomes or safety.