title: Gabapentin-induced modulation of interictal epileptiform activity related to different vigilance levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gabapentin (GBP) is a novel antiepileptic drug (AED), currently used as add-on therapy in patients with partial seizures. Similar to other AEDs, little is known about its effects on nocturnal sleep, despite the strict relationship between sleep and epileptic discharges. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of chronic therapy with GBP on both nocturnal sleep and on interictal epileptiform abnormalities (IEA) in relation to the different sleep stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients affected by partial seizures resistant to common AEDs were submitted to nocturnal polygraphic recordings under baseline conditions and after 4 months of add-on GBP treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a significant increase in unilateral/focal IEA during light NREM sleep and a significant reduction in bilateral/diffuse IEA during wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) with respect to the baseline condition. A significant increase in REM sleep and slow wave sleep (SWS) associated with a reduction in the number of awakenings and Stage 1 was also observed after GBP chronic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GBP therapy improves the sleep pattern of epileptic patients and it seems to modulate the expression of IEA with different effects in relation to the various vigilance levels.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Neurologica, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy. fbplacidi@libero.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Placidi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mattia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romigi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bassetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spanedda
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marciani
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin