Antiepileptic drugs modify power of high EEG frequencies and their neural generators.
BACKGROUND
The clinical and molecular effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been extensively investigated. Much less is known about their effects on human electrophysiology.


METHODS
Topographic analysis in the frequency domain has been used to analyze 104 electroencephalogram (EEG) epochs of 52 patients presenting with first-ever generalized seizure, with normal MRI and EEG. Patients were treated with valproate, arbamazepine, or lamotrigine in monotherapy (each group n = 13). Thirteen patients without medication served as a control group.


RESULTS
Carbamazepine and lamotrigine, both sodium-channel modulators, altered brain topography in the gamma range in the same frequency bands (50-60 Hz). Valproate, which has multiple actions on sodium and calcium channels as well as GABA turnover, modified brain topography in the low gamma range (30-40 Hz). No such changes were found in the control group. For all AEDs, the neural generators were shifted more anteriorly in medial temporal through to inferior frontal regions.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased gamma-power and anterior shift of neural generators after AED introduction reflect AED influence on human electrophysiology.
Arzy
S
S
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. shahar.arzy@hcuge.ch
Allali
G
G
Brunet
D
D
Michel
C M
CM
Kaplan
P W
PW
Seeck
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007473:Ion Channels; D014227:Triazines; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine