title: Valproate monotherapy in 30 patients with partial seizures.
abstract: This retrospective pilot study describes 30 patients diagnosed and treated for complex partial seizures (CPS) and simple partial seizures (SPS) with and without generalization who received valproate (VPA) monotherapy after lack of response or allergic reaction for carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT), or phenobarbital (PB). Seizures were tabulated daily on seizure calendars by the patients. Three time periods were examined for seizure frequency, 90 days before VPA treatment and 90 and 180 days after VPA treatment. Twenty-two were "controlled" or "improved" (reduction of seizure activity by greater than or equal to 51%) 6 months following the initiation of VPA. VPA was particularly effective in 17 patients who had secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) as a subtype of partial seizures. Failure of response to VPA in eight patients appears to be related to their type of partial seizure (SPS or CPS alone, without GTCS) and duration of uncontrolled recurrent seizures. Etiology and compliance were not related to treatment failure. This study supports the need for a double-blind controlled trial with VPA in patients with partial seizures.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid