Biomaterial Database

The anticonvulsant action of sodium valproate (Epilim) in 100 patients with various forms of epilepsy. 1977

J W Lance, and M Anthony

Sodium valproate (Epilim) has been used in the management of 100 patients with previously uncontrolled epilepsy for periods up to 2 years. If all manifestations of epilepsy are considered together, 75% to 100% control of seizures was achieved in 43% of patients, 25% to 74% control in 26%, and no improvement occurred in 31% of patients. Control of 75% to 100% was achieved in 57% of patients with a spike and wave electroencephalogram (EEG) disturbance but only in 35% of those with focal abnormalities, excessive slow activity, or normal records. When the various manifestations of epilepsy were considered individually, the greatest improvement was found among the patients with the minor forms of generalized epilepsy (petit mal absences, myoclonus and atonic attacks) in whom 75% to 100% control was obtained in 67%, compared with 43% of those with major generalized seizures (grand mal) and 30% of those with temporal lobe attacks and other forms of focal epilepsy. Gastrointestinal disturbances and drowsiness were noted as side effects in the early stages of treatment, but the majority of patients tolerated the drug well and many commented on increased mental alertness while taking it. Two patients were over-stimulated and some noticed tremor or twitching as side effects. Some minor abnormalities in blood coagulation studies were noted, but these were transient and did not appear to be of clinical significance. Regular blood counts and biochemical studies have not shown any significant changes. Sodium valproate appears to be a safe and useful anticonvulsant with the advantage that it usually makes patients brighter rather than drowsier. Abnormalities of platelet function have been described in some overseas reports, so that any unexplained bruising or bleeding in a patient taking valproate is an indication for a platelet count and coagulation studies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
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
D004831	Epilepsies, Myoclonic	A clinically diverse group of epilepsy syndromes characterized either by myoclonic seizures or by myoclonus in association with other seizure types. Myoclonic epilepsy syndromes are divided into three subtypes based on etiology: familial, cryptogenic, and symptomatic.	Idiopathic Myoclonic Epilepsy,Myoclonic Absence Epilepsy,Myoclonic Encephalopathy,Myoclonic Epilepsy,Symptomatic Myoclonic Epilepsy,Benign Infantile Myoclonic Epilepsy,Cryptogenic Myoclonic Epilepsy,Doose Syndrome,Dravet Syndrome,Early Childhood Epilepsy, Myoclonic,Early Childhood, Myoclonic Epilepsy,Encephalopathy, Myoclonic,Epilepsy, Early Childhood, Myoclonic,Epilepsy, Myoclonic, Early Childhood,Epilepsy, Myoclonic, Infantile,Epilepsy, Myoclonic, Infantile, Benign,Epilepsy, Myoclonic, Infantile, Severe,Epilepsy, Myoclonus,Infantile Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy,Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsy,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Benign Infantile,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Early Childhood,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Infantile,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Infantile, Benign,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Infantile, Severe,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Severe Infantile,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Severe, Of Infancy,Myoclonic Seizure Disorder,Severe Infantile Myoclonic Epilepsy,Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy Of Infancy,Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy, Infantile,Astatic Epilepsies, Myoclonic,Astatic Epilepsy, Myoclonic,Cryptogenic Myoclonic Epilepsies,Dravet Syndromes,Encephalopathies, Myoclonic,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic Myoclonic,Epilepsies, Idiopathic Myoclonic,Epilepsies, Infantile Myoclonic,Epilepsies, Myoclonic Absence,Epilepsies, Myoclonic Astatic,Epilepsies, Symptomatic Myoclonic,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic Myoclonic,Epilepsy, Idiopathic Myoclonic,Epilepsy, Infantile Myoclonic,Epilepsy, Myoclonic,Epilepsy, Myoclonic Absence,Epilepsy, Myoclonic Astatic,Epilepsy, Symptomatic Myoclonic,Idiopathic Myoclonic Epilepsies,Infantile Myoclonic Epilepsies,Infantile Myoclonic Epilepsy,Myoclonic Absence Epilepsies,Myoclonic Astatic Epilepsies,Myoclonic Encephalopathies,Myoclonic Epilepsies,Myoclonic Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Myoclonic Epilepsies, Idiopathic,Myoclonic Epilepsies, Infantile,Myoclonic Epilepsies, Symptomatic,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Idiopathic,Myoclonic Epilepsy, Symptomatic,Myoclonic Seizure Disorders,Myoclonus Epilepsies,Myoclonus Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder, Myoclonic,Seizure Disorders, Myoclonic,Symptomatic Myoclonic Epilepsies
D004832	Epilepsy, Absence	A seizure disorder usually occurring in childhood characterized by rhythmic electrical brain discharges of generalized onset. Clinical features include a sudden cessation of ongoing activity usually without loss of postural tone. Rhythmic blinking of the eyelids or lip smacking frequently accompanies the SEIZURES. The usual duration is 5-10 seconds, and multiple episodes may occur daily. Juvenile absence epilepsy is characterized by the juvenile onset of absence seizures and an increased incidence of myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p736)	Akinetic Petit Mal,Epilepsy, Minor,Petit Mal Epilepsy,Pyknolepsy,Absence Seizure Disorder,Childhood Absence Epilepsy,Epilepsy Juvenile Absence,Epilepsy, Absence, Atypical,Epilepsy, Petit Mal,Juvenile Absence Epilepsy,Pykno-Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder, Absence,Absence Epilepsy,Absence Epilepsy, Childhood,Absence Epilepsy, Juvenile,Absence Seizure Disorders,Epilepsy, Childhood Absence,Epilepsy, Juvenile Absence,Minor Epilepsy,Petit Mal, Akinetic,Pykno Epilepsy,Pyknolepsies,Seizure Disorders, Absence
D004833	Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe	A localization-related (focal) form of epilepsy characterized by recurrent seizures that arise from foci within the TEMPORAL LOBE, most commonly from its mesial aspect. A wide variety of psychic phenomena may be associated, including illusions, hallucinations, dyscognitive states, and affective experiences. The majority of complex partial seizures (see EPILEPSY, COMPLEX PARTIAL) originate from the temporal lobes. Temporal lobe seizures may be classified by etiology as cryptogenic, familial, or symptomatic. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p321).	Epilepsy, Benign Psychomotor, Childhood,Benign Psychomotor Epilepsy, Childhood,Childhood Benign Psychomotor Epilepsy,Epilepsy, Lateral Temporal,Epilepsy, Uncinate,Epilepsies, Lateral Temporal,Epilepsies, Temporal Lobe,Epilepsies, Uncinate,Lateral Temporal Epilepsies,Lateral Temporal Epilepsy,Temporal Lobe Epilepsies,Temporal Lobe Epilepsy,Uncinate Epilepsies,Uncinate Epilepsy
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths