Therapeutic monitoring of antiepileptic drugs. I--Clinical aspects. 1992

R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Bologna.

The management of epilepsy has been markedly improved during the last twenty years, although no new drug has been developed. These therapeutic advantages have been made possible by applying the concept of "therapeutic range" of antiepileptic drugs. This range was the result of some pioneer studies showing a good relationship between clinical effects and drug concentrations. Today, the approach to the drug therapy of epilepsy is heavily dependent on the application of this concept. Infact, important factors as patient compliance, variability in drug bioavailability and drug metabolism, drug interactions, disease interactions, etc, that may influence the clinical effect of a given dose, may be controlled by regular monitoring of antiepileptic drugs. However, the concept of "therapeutic range" should not be applied mechanically to patient treatment. The best results are obtained when the analytical results, the therapeutic situation and the clinical status of the patient are considered together. In this case, an important improvement of the quality of life of the epileptic patients can be reached.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004827 Epilepsy A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313) Aura,Awakening Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Auras,Cryptogenic Epilepsies,Cryptogenic Epilepsy,Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Awakening,Seizure Disorders
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000927 Anticonvulsants Drugs used to prevent SEIZURES or reduce their severity. Anticonvulsant,Anticonvulsant Drug,Anticonvulsive Agent,Anticonvulsive Drug,Antiepileptic,Antiepileptic Agent,Antiepileptic Agents,Antiepileptic Drug,Anticonvulsant Drugs,Anticonvulsive Agents,Anticonvulsive Drugs,Antiepileptic Drugs,Antiepileptics,Agent, Anticonvulsive,Agent, Antiepileptic,Agents, Anticonvulsive,Agents, Antiepileptic,Drug, Anticonvulsant,Drug, Anticonvulsive,Drug, Antiepileptic,Drugs, Anticonvulsant,Drugs, Anticonvulsive,Drugs, Antiepileptic
D016903 Drug Monitoring The process of observing, recording, or detecting the effects of a chemical substance administered to an individual therapeutically or diagnostically. Monitoring, Drug,Therapeutic Drug Monitoring,Drug Monitoring, Therapeutic,Monitoring, Therapeutic Drug

Related Publications

R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
January 2005, Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
July 1985, Rinsho byori. The Japanese journal of clinical pathology,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
January 2001, British journal of clinical pharmacology,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
September 1998, British journal of clinical pharmacology,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
January 2008, JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
January 2007, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
January 2000, European journal of clinical pharmacology,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
August 2020, Neurology. Clinical practice,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
February 2020, Neurology. Clinical practice,
R Riva, and F Albani, and A Baruzzi
February 2020, Neurology. Clinical practice,
Copied contents to your clipboard!