Open-label pilot study of levetiracetam (Keppra) for the treatment of chorea in Huntington's disease

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the tolerability and preliminary efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) in reducing chorea in Huntington's disease (HD) patients in a prospective open-label pilot study. Nine HD patients with chorea were treated with LEV in doses up to 3,000 mg/day for up to 48 days. The primary endpoint measure was the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) chorea subscore. The mean dose (+/-SD) of LEV at endpoint was 2,583.3 +/- 1,020.6 mg/day. Mean UHDRS chorea score decreased from 12.6 +/- 3.0 at baseline to 6.7 +/- 4.3 at endpoint (P = 0.01). There was no significant change in UHDRS total motor scores (38.8 +/- 11.4 at baseline and 33.6 +/- 26.7 at endpoint; P = 0.24). Somnolence contributed to a 33% drop-out rate, and 3 patients developed Parkinsonism. Results of this open label study suggest that LEV may be efficacious in reducing chorea in HD patients.