Inverse correlation of valproic acid serum concentrations and quality of life in adolescents with epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Correlation between steady-state serum concentrations of antiepileptic drugs and both seizure control and adverse drug reactions frequency (two major determinants of quality of life in patients with epilepsy) is still matter of controversy.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to investigate whether a correlation exists between steady-state serum concentration of valproic acid and quality of life in adolescent patients with epilepsy.


METHODS
Twenty-one adolescent patients with epilepsy, treated with valproic acid for more than 6 months entered the study. On two occasions, 3 months apart, both through and 2-h-after-the-dose serum concentrations of valproic acid were measured, as well as quality of life, using QOLIE-AD-48 for adolescents. Adverse drug reactions and seizure control were also recorded.


RESULTS
Significant inverse correlation between through serum concentrations of valproic acid and total QOLIE-AD-48 scores was observed, together with correlation between through serum concentrations and adverse drug reactions frequency. The scores of memory/concentration and physical functioning QOLIEAD-48 domains were significantly and inversely correlated with through serum concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that therapeutic monitoring of valproic acid serum concentrations could be useful predictor and marker of the most important epilepsy treatment outcome--quality of life.
Jakovljevic
Mihajlo B
MB
Pharmacology Department, Medical Faculty, University of Kragujevac, ul. Svetozara Markovica 69, Kragujevac, Serbia. SidartaGothama@gmail.com
Jankovic
Slobodan M
SM
Jankovic
Snezana V
SV
Todorovic
Natalija
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid