title: Reversible dementia and gait disturbance after prolonged use of valproic acid.
abstract: Valproic acid (VPA) has been reported to cause cognitive decline and parkinsonism that are reversed with cessation of medication. Common imaging findings among these reports demonstrate reversible cortical pseudoatrophy and enlargement of the lateral ventricles. This case exemplifies these adverse effects of VPA which can cause reversible neurological symptoms even in long-term treated patients and can present as dementia syndromes such as normal pressure hydrocephalus.
authors: University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix Campus, 550 East Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2230, USA. mdevans@email.arizona.edu
authors: Matthew D
authors: MD
authors: Evans
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Shinar
authors: Roy
authors: R
authors: Yaari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000139:chemically induced; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid