The Efficacy of Iron and Piracetam in Breath Holding Spells and Levetiracetam in Anoxic Epileptic Seizures

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, the patients diagnosed with breath holding spell (BHS) or anoxic epileptic seizures and initiated at least one out of iron or piracetam or levetiracetam therapies were evaluated. Material and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 194 BHS patients. Iron therapy was initiated in case of iron deficiency anemia or case of ferritin values under 12 ng/dl even if there was no anemia. The patients having no iron deficiency anemia, low ferritin and anoxic epileptic seizures were administered piracetam and the patients diagnosed with anoxic epileptic seizures were administered levetiracetam. Results: One hundred and eight patients (55.7%) were male. The mean age was 21.39±12.78 months. Iron therapy was initiated in 87 patients, piracetam to 96, and levetiracetam in 11 patients. Seizure numbers were manifestly decreased in all groups by the end of the first month after treatment concerning pretreatment levels (p<0.05). Conclusions: We determined that the spells were reduced or completely stopped in all groups. Levetiracetam seems to be considerably effective in patients developing anoxic epileptic seizures after BHS.