Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33111213›Full record

SynthesisCNS drugs2020

Levetiracetam versus Phenytoin for the Pharmacotherapy of Benzodiazepine-Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Tao Xue, Luxin Wei, Xiaotian Shen, Zilan Wang, Zhouqing Chen, Zhong Wang

Abstract readComparative StudyMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in CNS drugs, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Tao Xue *Department of Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
Luxin Wei *Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
Xiaotian ShenShanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Zilan WangDepartment of Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
Zhouqing ChenDepartment of Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China. zqchen6@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7517-7036
Zhong WangDepartment of Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China. wangzhong761@163.com.
Soochow University · CNShanghai Medical College of Fudan University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecent studies have shown conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of levetiracetam for treating benzodiazepine-refractory status epilepticus (SE) compared with phenytoin. Therefore, a meta-analysis was carried out to assess the value of levetiracetam versus phenytoin in the pharmacotherapy of benzodiazepine-refractory SE.

objectiveThe aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam and phenytoin in the treatment of benzodiazepine-refractory SE.

methodsThe MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that had been conducted to evaluate levetiracetam versus phenytoin for benzodiazepine-refractory SE, to April 2020. The data were assessed using Review Manager 5.3 software. The risk ratio (RR) was analyzed using dichotomous outcomes, and calculated using a random-effect model.

resultsWe pooled 1850 patients from 12 RCTs. Patients in the levetiracetam group had a significantly higher rate of clinical seizure cessation than in the phenytoin group (75.2% vs. 67.8%; RR 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.25, p = 0.003). Moreover, less adverse events were observed in the levetiracetam group than in the phenytoin group (17.8% vs. 21.4%; RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.97, p = 0.02). In subgroup analysis, clinical seizure cessation was achieved more frequently with a higher dose of levetiracetam (> 30 mg/kg) [RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.00-1.32, p = 0.05]. Furthermore, in the subgroup of children, levetiracetam showed a higher rate of clinical seizure cessation than phenytoin (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.25, p = 0.02).

conclusionPharmacotherapy for BZD-refractory SE by LEV is superior to PHT in efficacy and safety outcomes.

Indexed as

AnticonvulsantsBenzodiazepinesChildHumansLevetiracetamOdds RatioPhenytoinRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicStatus EpilepticusAnticonvulsantsBenzodiazepinesLevetiracetamPhenytoin

Identifiers

PMID33111213
OpenAlexW3097154705

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.