<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
			<journal>
			<title>Iranian Journal of Neonatology</title>
			<title_fa>مجله نوزادان ایران</title_fa>
			<short_title>IJN</short_title>
			<subject>Medical Sciences</subject>
			<web_url>https://ijn.mums.ac.ir/</web_url>
			<journal_hbi_system_id>0</journal_hbi_system_id>
			<journal_hbi_system_user></journal_hbi_system_user>
			<journal_id_issn>2251-7510</journal_id_issn>
			<journal_id_issn_online>2322-2158</journal_id_issn_online>
			<journal_id_pii></journal_id_pii>
			<journal_id_doi></journal_id_doi>
			<journal_id_iranmedex></journal_id_iranmedex>
			<journal_id_magiran></journal_id_magiran>
			<journal_id_sid></journal_id_sid>
			<journal_id_nlai></journal_id_nlai>
			<journal_id_science></journal_id_science>
			<language>en</language>
			<pubdate>
				<type>jalali</type>
				<year>0</year>
				<month>0</month>
				<day>1</day>
			</pubdate>
			<pubdate>
				<type>gregorian</type>
				<year>2026</year>
				<month>7</month>
				<day>1</day>
			</pubdate>
			<volume>17</volume>
			<number>3</number>
			<publish_type>online</publish_type>
			<publish_edition>1</publish_edition>
			<article_type>fulltext</article_type>
			<articleset><article>
				<language>en</language>
				<article_id_issn></article_id_issn>
				<article_id_issn_online></article_id_issn_online>
				<article_id_pubmed></article_id_pubmed>
				<article_id_pii></article_id_pii>
				<article_id_doi></article_id_doi>
				<article_id_iranmedex></article_id_iranmedex>
				<article_id_magiran></article_id_magiran>
				<article_id_sid></article_id_sid>
				<title_fa></title_fa>
				<title>Efficacy of Phenobarbital Versus Levetiracetam in Neonatal Seizures: Impact on EEG Results and Clinical Recovery</title>
				<subject_fa></subject_fa>
				<subject></subject>
				<content_type_fa>تحقیقی اصیل</content_type_fa>
				<content_type>Original Article</content_type>
				<abstract_fa><![CDATA[]]></abstract_fa>
				<abstract><![CDATA[Background: This study compared the efficacy of phenobarbital and levetiracetam in the treatment of neonatal seizures, with emphasis on seizure control, electroencephalographic (EEG) normalization, and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Medan, Indonesia, between January 2022 and February 2025. Neonates aged 0–28 days with clinically or EEG-confirmed seizures were included. Patients received phenobarbital, levetiracetam, or combination therapy. Outcomes assessed were seizure control within 24 hours, EEG normalization during follow-up, and neurodevelopmental status. Normality of continuous data was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test; appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests were applied.
Results: Fifty-nine neonates met the inclusion criteria: levetiracetam monotherapy (n=36), phenobarbital monotherapy (n=7), and combination therapy (n=16). Seizure cessation within 24 hours was achieved in 94.6% overall and 100% in the levetiracetam group. EEG normalization occurred in 58.3% of the levetiracetam group, 42.9% of the phenobarbital group, and 43.8% of the combination group (p=0.537). At follow-up, all neonates in the levetiracetam group demonstrated normal neurodevelopment, compared with 88.9% in the phenobarbital group and 87.5% in the combination group. Early initiation of therapy (&lt;6 hours from seizure onset) was significantly associated with improved seizure control (p=0.008).
Conclusion: Levetiracetam was as effective as phenobarbital in seizure control and EEG normalization, with a trend toward superior neurodevelopmental outcomes. These findings, derived from a Southeast Asian NICU setting, support levetiracetam as a safe and effective first-line agent for neonatal seizures. Early initiation of therapy and structured EEG monitoring further improve prognostication and outcomes.]]></abstract>
				<keyword_fa></keyword_fa>
				<keyword>EEG normalization, Levetiracetam, neonatal seizures, Neurodevelopmental outcome, Phenobarbital</keyword>
				<start_page>9</start_page>
				<end_page>15</end_page>
				<web_url>https://ijn.mums.ac.ir/article_27864.html</web_url>
			<author_list><author>
				<first_name>Bugis</first_name>
				<middle_name>Mardina</middle_name>
				<last_name>Lubis</last_name>
				<suffix></suffix>
				<first_name_fa></first_name_fa>
				<middle_name_fa></middle_name_fa>
				<last_name_fa></last_name_fa>
				<suffix_fa></suffix_fa>
				<email>bugis.mardina@usu.ac.id</email>
				<code>122501</code>
				<coreauthor>Yes</coreauthor>
				<affiliation>1. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universities Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
2. Department of Pediatrics, Stella Maris Mother and Children Hospital, Medan, Indonesia</affiliation>
				<affiliation_fa></affiliation_fa>
				 </author><author>
				<first_name>Johannes</first_name>
				<middle_name>Harlan</middle_name>
				<last_name>Saing</last_name>
				<suffix></suffix>
				<first_name_fa></first_name_fa>
				<middle_name_fa></middle_name_fa>
				<last_name_fa></last_name_fa>
				<suffix_fa></suffix_fa>
				<email>jhsaing.saing@gmail.com</email>
				<code>122502</code>
				<coreauthor>No</coreauthor>
				<affiliation>1. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universities Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
2. Department of Pediatrics, Stella Maris Mother and Children Hospital, Medan, Indonesia</affiliation>
				<affiliation_fa></affiliation_fa>
				 </author><author>
				<first_name>Christa</first_name>
				<middle_name>Martha Novita</middle_name>
				<last_name>Pardede</last_name>
				<suffix></suffix>
				<first_name_fa></first_name_fa>
				<middle_name_fa></middle_name_fa>
				<last_name_fa></last_name_fa>
				<suffix_fa></suffix_fa>
				<email>christamarthapardede@gmail.com</email>
				<code>122503</code>
				<coreauthor>No</coreauthor>
				<affiliation>Department of Pediatrics, Stella Maris Mother and Children Hospital, Medan, Indonesia</affiliation>
				<affiliation_fa></affiliation_fa>
				 </author></author_list>
				</article>
			</articleset>
			</journal>