Abstract
45 patients with intractable seizures are being treated with a new anticonvulsant, valproic acid (VPA). Two separate protocols are being followed. VPA was initially added to previous drugs.
The first protocol involves 19 patients with simple or complex absence seizures. Maximum VPA dose is 60 mgm/Kgm/day. 6 hr EEGs were obtained initially, after two weeks of placebo and after 10 weeks of VPA. EEG analysis included the number and duration of electrical seizures. All patients show clinical improvement. 14 have a 75-100% reduction in clinical seizures. 5 are seizure free; none on less than 60 mgm/Kgm/day. In 6, clinical improvement cannot be correlated with the degree of EEG improvement.
The second protocol involves 26 patients with mixed seizure types. Maximum VPA dose is 30 mgm/Kgm/day. Routine EEGs were done initially and after reaching stable maximum dosage, 13 patients are improved. 7 have a 75-100% reduction in clinical seizure frequency and 6 a 33-74% reduction. 3 patients are not improved. EEGs show no significant change. No patient is seizure free at a 30 mgm/Kgm/day dosage.
VPA was effective against a variety of intractable seizure types. There was no consistent correlation between clinical and EEG improvement. No serious side effects or exacerbations of seizures occurred.
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Cruse, R., Erenberg, G., Rothner, A. et al. 1121 VALPROIC ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF INTRACTABLE SEIZURES. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 550 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01127
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01127
