title: Effects of antiepileptic drugs on interictal epileptiform discharges in focal epilepsies: an update on current evidence.
abstract: Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), occurring in the electroencephalograms (EEG) of patients with focal epilepsy, are crucial for diagnosis, while their relationship with seizure severity and recurrence is controversial. The effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on IEDs are even more debated. In general, it is currently believed by experts in the field that most of the classical AEDs do not significantly affect IEDs occurrence in these patients, and that monitoring their EEG effects during treatment is useless. In this review, we update the existing literature on the effects of classical and newer AEDs on focal IEDs, emphasizing the scarcity of data concerning the latter. We also discuss potential limits of available clinical and experimental data and future perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Neurology Unit, University of Pisa-Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iudice
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonanni
authors.forename: Filippo Sean
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Giorgi
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: antiepileptic drugs; electroencephalogram; focal epilepsy; hippocampal slices; interictal epileptiform discharges; temporal lobe epilepsy