title: Magnesium valproate in learning disabled children with interictal paroxysmal EEG patterns: Preliminary report.
abstract: Previous studies have investigated whether routine use of antiepileptic drugs is adequate to improve cognitive abilities in children who are learning disabled not otherwise specified (LD NOS) and who display interictal paroxysmal patterns in the electroencephalogram (EEG) but do not have epilepsy, and the findings of these studies have been controversial. In the current study, 112 LD children without epilepsy were assessed; however, only 18 met the strict inclusion/exclusion criteria in order to obtain a homogeneous sample. These children showed interictal paroxysmal patterns in the EEG, and a randomized, double-blind trial was carried out on them. The children were treated with either magnesium valproate (MgV; 20mg/kg/day) or a placebo for six months, and differences in WISC subtests, in a computerized reading skills battery (BTL) and EEG recordings were evaluated between groups before and after the treatment period. Performance IQ score and several items of the BTL (rhymes and ordering of words) improved in children who received MgV, whereas no changes were observed in the placebo group. No changes in the number of interictal paroxysmal patterns were observed in any group; however increased EEG currents at 10.92 and 12.87Hz (alpha band) in posterior regions and decreased currents in frequencies within the theta band (3.90, 4.29 and 5.07Hz) in frontal regions and at 4.68 and 5.46Hz in the parietal cortex were observed, suggesting an improvement in EEG maturation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), Campus Juriquilla, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Queretaro 76230, Qro.,, Mexico. eneidaporras@yahoo.com.mx
authors.forename: Eneida
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porras-Kattz
authors.forename: Thalía
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harmony
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ricardo-Garcell
authors.forename: Lídice
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galán
authors.forename: Thalía
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prado-Alcalá
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avecilla-Ramírez
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Moreno
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barrera-Reséndiz
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corsi-Cabrera
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valencia-Solís
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011601:Psychophysics; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014635:Valproic Acid