title: [The effect of valproic acid monotherapy on behavior and cognitive performance of children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy].
abstract: Valproic acid (VPA) currently plays an important role in the treatment of several different types of epilepsy. Especially in children and adolescents, VPA is used because of a minimum of adverse effects and generally little impact on cognitive and psychomotor functions. However, reports in the literature regarding the influence of VPA on behavior and cognitive performance and on EEG parameters vary widely. We investigated the effect of VPA monotherapy on behavioral components (attention, concentration, inhibitory control), cognitive efficiency (motor reaction time, learning, retention) and evoked potentials in 19 children aged 6 to 14 years with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and compared the results with those of healthy controls matched for age. In addition, we analyzed the serum levels of VPA and some of the VPA metabolites in all of the children with epilepsy immediately before the psychophysiological assessments. Our results show marked differences between the children with epilepsy and the healthy controls in all types of behavior and cognitive performance assessed. Abnormal behavior (disturbances of attention and concentration, impulsive behavior patterns) and significant changes in evoked potentials appear to be correlated with serum levels of VPA and certain VPA metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Neurobiologie, Otto-von-Geuricke-Universität, Magdeburg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Darius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brosz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kroker
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wien
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010552:Personality Assessment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid
vernacular_title: Der Einfluss einer Valproinsäure-Monotherapie auf das Verhalten und die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit von Kindern mit idiopathischen generalisierten Epilepsien.