Levetiracetam Treatment of Neonatal Seizures: Safety and Efficacy Phase II Study

Eligibility Criteria: 1. Male or female term baby with gestational age of 36-43 weeks and postnatal age \< or= 72 hours 2. One or more of the following : * APGAR score \< 5 at 5 mins * Umbilical cord or arterial blood sample (within one hour after birth): pH \<7.0 or base deficit \> or = 16 mmol/L or lactates \> or equal to 11 mmol/L * Abnormal neurological examination before 6 hours of life 3. Suspected clinical or EEG seizures Inclusion criteria: * A seizure lasting more than 3 minutes or more than 2 seizures lasting more than 20 seconds on a 1 hour-period on standard EEG recording 4 hours before the levetiracetam loading dose * Availability of 8 electrode EEG recording * Written informed consent of both parents or the authorized guardians * Subscription to social security health insurance are required Exclusion Criteria: * Suspected or confirmed brain malformation, inborn error of metabolism, genetic syndrome or major congenital malformation * Congenital (in utero) infection (TORCH) * Babies who have received phenobarbital or any other anticonvulsive medication other than a bolus of midazolam for intubation * Anuria/renal failure defined as serum creatinine \> 150 micromol/L * Seizures secondary to treatable metabolic etiology as hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia * Corrected QT interval (QTc) greater than 450 milliseconds on the electrocardiogram (ECG) prior to inclusion in the presence or absence of a condition that promotes QT prolongation (hypokalemia, matern…