Clinical efficacy and long-term effects of valproic acid therapy on spike-and-wave discharges.
Twenty-two patients with absence seizures and other seizure types were treated with valproic acid and followed up for 1 year. Results were excellent with more than 75% improvement in 80% of patients with absence seizures, in 40% of those with tonic-clonic seizures, in all of those with myoclonic seizures, and in 43% of those with partial seizures. Fifty-seven percent of the patients had more than a 75% reduction in the total number of paroxysmal spike-wave discharges, and 62% had more than a 75% reduction in the number of spike-wave discharges lasting longer than 3 seconds. Photosensitivity and activation by hyperventilation decreased. More patients achieved good EEG control in 1 year than in 10 weeks.
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000188:drug therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000188:drug therapy; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos; D012890:Sleep; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014851:Wakefulness
D010919:Placebos; D014635:Valproic Acid