Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 50 3 2021 02 27 520 530 Min CHEN Department of Pediatrics, Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221116, China Yazhou JIANG Department of Pediatrics, Suqian People's Hospital, Suqian 223800, China Li MA Department of Pediatrics, Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221116, China Xuedian ZHOU Department of Pediatrics, Heping Women and Children's Hospital of Xuzhou, Xuzhou 221000, China Nuan WANG Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou City, 221116, China 2020 08 04 2020 11 26 Background: We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of sodium valproate combined with levetiracetam on pediatric epilepsy and the effects of nerve growth factor and γ-aminobutyric acid. Methods: Eighty-three epileptic children admitted to Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (Xuzhou, China) from Jan 2018 to Nov 2019 were collected and divided into a control group (40 cases, treated with sodium valproate alone) and an observation group (43 cases, treated with sodium valproate combined with levetiracetam). The therapeutic effect and incidence of adverse reactions were observed. The levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) of children were compared. Changes of cognitive function and the total effective rate were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors affecting the therapeutic effect. Results: After treatment, NGF, GABA and NSE in the observation group were significantly improved compared with those before treatment. The cognitive function of the observation group was significantly improved after treatment when compared with the control group. The total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group. Adverse reactions in the observation group were less than those in the control group. Seizure type, NGF, GABA, NSE and treatment methods were independent risk factors affecting the therapeutic effect of pediatric epilepsy. Conclusion: The application of sodium valproate combined with levetiracetam in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy is helpful to improve the overall therapeutic effect, significantly improve the cognitive function of children, and improve the levels of NGF, GABA and NSE. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/21702 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/21702/7161