The epidemiology of drug resistant epilepsy and adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs.
Patients with partial, particularly complex partial, epilepsy, especially where this is related to underlying cerebral disease or damage, tend to respond poorly to existing antiepileptic drug therapy. The epidemiology of such patients is reviewed, together with the adverse effects of antiepileptic drug therapy which may be acute (dose-related and idiosyncratic) or chronic. Such chronic toxicity may cause nervous system, skin, hepatic, haematological, endocrine, and connective tissue problems, and also disorders of pregnancy. As complex partial epilepsy often responds poorly to drug therapy, the possible benefit of surgical treatment should be considered at a relatively early stage.
Chadwick
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Regional Neurological Center, Walton Hospital, Liverpool, U.K.
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants