Abstract found on Wiley Online Library
Objective: This study aimed to directly compare the effectiveness of first-line monotherapy levetiracetam (LEV) versus enzyme-inducing antiseizure medications (EIASMs) in glioma patients.
Methods: In this nationwide retrospective observational cohort study grade 2-4 glioma patients were included, with a maximum duration of follow-up of 36 months. Primary outcome was ASM treatment failure for any reason and secondary outcomes were treatment failure due to uncontrolled seizures and due to adverse effects. For estimation of the association between ASM treatment and ASM treatment failure, multivariable cause-specific cox proportional hazard models were estimated, adjusting for potential confounders.
Results: In the original cohort a total of 808 brain tumour patients with epilepsy were included, of which 109 glioma patients were prescribed first-line LEV and 183 glioma patients first-line EIASMs. The EIASMs group had a significantly higher risk of treatment failure for any reason compared to LEV (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=1.82 [95%CI=1.20-2.75], p=0.005). Treatment failure due to uncontrolled seizures did not differ significantly between EIASMs and LEV (aHR=1.32 [95%CI=0.78-2.25], p=0.300), but treatment failure due to adverse effects differed significantly (aHR=4.87 [95%CI=1.89-12.55], p=0.001).
Significance: In this study it was demonstrated that levetiracetam (LEV) had a significantly better effectiveness (i.e. less often ASM treatment failure for any reason or due to adverse effects) compared to enzyme-inducing anti-seizure medications (EIASMs), supporting the current neuro-oncology guideline recommendations to avoid EIASMs in glioma patients.