Thiamine and folate treatment of chronic epileptic patients: a controlled study with the Wechsler IQ scale.
Seventy-two epileptic patients receiving phenytoin (PHT) alone or in combination with phenobarbital for more than 4 years were divided into four groups, the first taking two placebo tablets per day; the second folate (5 mg/day) and placebo; the third placebo and thiamine (50 mg/day); and the fourth both vitamins. The clinical trial lasted 6 months. At baseline assessment, 31% of the patients had subnormal blood thiamine levels and 30% had low folate. The vitamin deficiencies were independent phenomena. It was found that thiamine improved neuropsychological functions in both verbal and non-verbal IQ testing. In particular, higher scores were recorded on the block design, digit symbol, similarities and digit span subtests. Folate treatment was ineffective. These results indicate that, in epileptics chronically treated with PHT, thiamine improves neuropsychological functions, such as visuo-spatial analysis, visuo-motor speed and verbal abstracting ability.
Botez
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MI
Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Neurology Service, Montreal, Que., Canada.
Botez
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T
Ross-Chouinard
A
A
Lalonde
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004493:Education; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013831:Thiamine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D010672:Phenytoin; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D013831:Thiamine; D010634:Phenobarbital