.webp&w=384&q=75){kind=logo}
Loading, please wait...
Loading, please wait...
The choice of antiseizure medication in generalized epilepsy is particularly challenging because efficacy must be balanced against reproductive safety. SANAD II compared valproate with levetiracetam as first-line treatment in children and adults with newly diagnosed generalized or unclassified epilepsy. In the intention-to-treat analysis, levetiracetam did not meet the predefined non-inferiority margin for 12-month seizure remission. In per-protocol analysis, valproate was superior for remission and was also associated with a lower risk of treatment failure. These findings are important because levetiracetam has been widely adopted as an alternative to valproate, partly because of concerns about valproate exposure during pregnancy. The trial does not remove those safety concerns; rather, it quantifies the efficacy trade-off. For HCPs, the clinical decision should therefore balance seizure control with reproductive potential, teratogenic risk and patient preference. The study is especially relevant to women who may become pregnant, where a less effective alternative may still be preferred in some circumstances. The key lesson is that antiseizure prescribing should be individualised and should explicitly address both efficacy and reproductive risk.
Read summarized clinical updates, watch expert medical content, and earn CME certifications right from your smartphone.
Open your smartphone camera to scan and install.
The choice of antiseizure medication in generalized epilepsy is particularly challenging because efficacy must be balanced against reproductive safety. SANAD II compared valproate with levetiracetam as first-line treatment in children and adults with newly diagnosed generalized or unclassified epilepsy. In the intention-to-treat analysis, levetiracetam did not meet the predefined non-inferiority margin for 12-month seizure remission. In per-protocol analysis, valproate was superior for remission and was also associated with a lower risk of treatment failure. These findings are important because levetiracetam has been widely adopted as an alternative to valproate, partly because of concerns about valproate exposure during pregnancy. The trial does not remove those safety concerns; rather, it quantifies the efficacy trade-off. For HCPs, the clinical decision should therefore balance seizure control with reproductive potential, teratogenic risk and patient preference. The study is especially relevant to women who may become pregnant, where a less effective alternative may still be preferred in some circumstances. The key lesson is that antiseizure prescribing should be individualised and should explicitly address both efficacy and reproductive risk.
Today
The phase 3 ACACIA-HCM trial reveals that aficamten improves cardiac structure, diastolic relaxation, functional capacity, and symptom burden in symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, marking a major milestone in targeted myosin inhibition.
6 days back
A clinical study shows that automated breast ultrasound paired with artificial intelligence accurately classifies BIRADS 3-4 lesions, reaching 95% sensitivity and 79% specificity. This diagnostic advance promises to reduce unnecessary core needle biopsies and refine clinical workflows in breast imaging.
3 weeks back
Researchers have engineered freestanding hierarchical-porous BCZT thin films that resist cracking and enhance ultrasonic energy harvesting in soft tissue. Achieving high piezoelectric output and acoustic matching, this lead-free material offers transformative potential for implantable bioelectronics.
6 days back
A novel pathology-adaptive surface engineering strategy uses functionalized plasma polymer coatings to selectively modulate AGE adsorption, reducing oxidative stress and restoring bone formation in diabetic and aging microenvironments.
3 weeks back
A breakthrough study identifies the Klotho/PKCα/CUX1/SPARC/TGFβ-RII axis as a critical driver of podocyte mitochondrial injury and ferroptosis in diabetic kidney disease, unveiling promising molecular targets to halt renal disease progression.
6 days back
