The role of hippocampal sclerosis in antiepileptic drug-related depression in patients with epilepsy: a study on levetiracetam.
OBJECTIVE
Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) has been described as a relevant factor for the development of topiramate-related depression and cognitive deficits. The aim of our study was to clarify whether patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and HS were also at risk during therapy with levetiracetam (LEV).


METHODS
Data of 156 patients was analysed: 78 with TLE and HS and 78 with TLE and normal MRI matched for age, starting dose and titration schedule of LEV. Patients were selected from a population of consecutive patients started on LEV between 2000 and 2002.


RESULTS
No differences were observed in prevalence of cognitive adverse events and depression between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
LEV treatment is not associated with cognitive adverse events and depression in patients with hippocampal sclerosis.
Mula
Marco
M
Department of Clinical & Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. marcomula@yahoo.it
Sander
Josemir W
JW
Trimble
Michael R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012598:Sclerosis
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam