Motor impairments in children with epilepsy treated with carbamazepine.
Nineteen children with epilepsy were tested on two occasions, first during treatment with carbamazepine (CBZ) and then 6 months later without treatment. Plasma drug concentrations were within the therapeutic limits in all children. The children were examined with a standardized test of gross- and fine- motor functions, the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency. Significant improvements were found in response speed (p < 0.05), in composite fine-motor tests (p < 0.01) and in the total test battery (p < 0.05) after the treatment had been withdrawn. A tendency to improvement was found in the fine-motor subtest of upper limb coordination (p = 0.08). Another group of 12 children was tested twice during treatment with CBZ with an interval of 6 months. No difference was found in this group except for an impairment of the results in the subtest of visual-motor control on the second test occasion (p = 0.05).
Braathen
G
G
Department of Paediatrics, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
von Bahr
L
L
Theorell
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects*; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D011930:Reaction Time
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine