SynthesisJournal of neuro-oncology2016
Levetiracetam for seizure prevention in brain tumor patients: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 32 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and safety of levetiracetam in preventing postoperative seizures in adult patients with brain tumors: a meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Management of epilepsy in brain tumors.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2019Guideline
- Voxel-based mapping of postoperative epilepsy risk in glioma patients: supplementary motor area and limbic system correlations.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam Versus Phenytoin for Post-craniotomy Seizure Prophylaxis.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2023Article
- Tumor type, epilepsy burden, and seizure documentation: experiences at a single center neuro-oncology clinic.Neuro-oncology practice · 2021Article
- Levetiracetam Prophylaxis Therapy for Brain Tumor-Related Epilepsy (BTRE) Is Associated With a Higher Psychiatric Burden.Frontiers in neurology · 2021Article
- Antiepileptic Drugs in the Management of Cerebral Metastases.Neurosurgery clinics of North America · 2020Review
- Clinical Diagnosis and Perioperative Management of Glioma-Related Epilepsy.Frontiers in oncology · 2020Review
- Tumor-related epilepsy: epidemiology, pathogenesis and management.Journal of neuro-oncology · 2018Review
- Brain tumor location influences the onset of acute psychiatric adverse events of levetiracetam therapy: an observational study.Journal of neurology · 2017Observational
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Seizures are common complications for patients with brain tumors. No clear evidence exists regarding the use of antiepileptic agents for prophylactic use yet newer agents are being favoured in many clinical settings. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of levetiracetam for preventing seizures in patients with brain tumors. A literature search was completed using the databases PubMed (1948 to December 2015), EMBASE (1980 to December 2015), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they reported seizure frequency data pertaining to levetiracetam use in patients with brain tumors as either monotherapy or as an add on agent. The literature search produced 21 articles (3 randomized controlled trials, seven prospective observational studies, and 11 retrospective observational studies). All studies were found to be at high risk of bias. Overall, studies show levetiracetam decreased seizure frequency in brain tumor patients with or without craniotomy. Safety outcomes were also favourable. As such, levetiracetam appears effective for reducing seizures in patients with brain tumors and may be considered a first-line agent. However, there is an urgent need for more high quality prospective data assessing levetiracetam and other antiepileptic drugs in this population.
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