Effect of Chronic Valproic Acid Use on Anterior Cerebral Blood Flow of Children with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: Cerebral blood flow has been blamed as a factor in the negative effect of antiepileptic drugs on neurocognition. This study aimed to investigate whether valproic acid (VPA), used for the treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), causes a change in cerebral blood flow in children. Methods: Included in this study were 33 children who were receiving VPA for IGE and 34 age-matched controls. Doppler and spectral measurements in common carotid artery (CCA), left and right internal CA (ICA) and external CA (ECA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) were performed and the maximum velocity (VM), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) and flow rate (FR) were calculated. Results: The mean age of drug and control groups were 9.33 ± 2.11, and 9.74 ± 2 years, respectively. Follow-up of patients was 17.7±3.2 months. The period of VPA treatment was 17.4±3.4 months. No statistically significant differences were found between control and VPA group for the VM, EDV, RI, PI, and FR values obtained from the bilateral ICA, ACA, and MCA. Conclusions: The results showed that VPA in therapeutic doses did not affect anterior cerebral blood flow. However according to result, it is still difficult to conclude that neurocognitive deterioration is not observed in patients receiving VPA. © 2022, Neurological Society R.O.C (Taiwan). All rights reserved.