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Levetiracetam Concentrations in Serum and in Breast Milk at Birth and during Lactation
Author(s) -
Johannessen Svein I.,
Helde Grethe,
Brodtkorb Eylert
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.54804.x
Subject(s) - levetiracetam , breast milk , lactation , medicine , breast feeding , pharmacokinetics , umbilical cord , serum concentration , pregnancy , epilepsy , obstetrics , physiology , pediatrics , biology , immunology , biochemistry , genetics , psychiatry
Summary: Purpose: To study the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam (LEV) at birth, during lactation, and in the nursed infant. Methods: Eight consecutive breast‐feeding women with epilepsy treated with LEV twice daily and their infants were studied. Results: The mean umbilical cord serum/maternal serum ratio was 1.14 (range, 0.97–1.45) (n = 4). The mean milk/maternal serum concentration ratio was 1.00 (range, 0.76–1.33) at 3 to 5 days after delivery (n = 7). At sampling 2 weeks to 10 months after delivery (n = 5), it was similar (range, 0.85–1.38). At 3 to 5 days after delivery, the infants had very low LEV serum concentrations (<10–15 μM), a finding that persisted during continued breast‐feeding. No malformations were detected, and in none of the infants did signs of adverse effects develop. Conclusions: Our data indicate an extensive transfer of LEV from mother to fetus and into breast milk. However, breast‐fed infants had very low LEV serum concentrations, suggesting a rapid elimination of LEV.