title: Effects of the antiepileptic drugs on peripheral nerve function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to compare the effects of antiepileptic drugs and provide findings of peripheral nerve impairment using standard electrophysiological techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young adult outpatients with epilepsy on monotherapy for no less than 6 months with carbamazepine (CBZ), valproic acid (VPA), oxcarbazepine (OXC) and topiramate (TPM) were examined. Patients who had any other disease that could effect nerve conduction studies and who had neuropathic symptoms were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each group contained 15 patients and 20 healthy subjects were examined as the control group. Prolonged latency of median sensory nerve (P = 0.004), ulnar sensory nerve (P = 0.01) and sural nerve (P = 0.003) with a diminished nerve conduction velocity was observed in the CBZ group (P = 0.014, P = 0.002, P = 0.025, respectively). No correlation was found between VPA, OXC and TPM and the nerve conduction studies (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Valproic acid, oxcarbazepine and topiramate don't have effects on nerve conduction studies. Mild electrophysiological changes contribute to carbamazepine therapy.
authors.affiliation: GATA Training Hospital, Neurology Department, Istanbul, Turkey. eceboylu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boylu
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Domaç
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Misirli
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saraçoğlu
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D000077236:Topiramate; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine