Effect of carbamazepine therapy on cerebral blood flow in children with partial epilepsyf

Authors : D TÜRKDOĞAN, Ç ÖNSEL, E ALTIOK, E YALÇIN

Pages : 129-134

View : 13 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 1997-07-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: The effect of chronic carbamazepine insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CBZ); therapy on regional blood flow insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(rCBF); was evaluated using single photon emission computed tomography insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SPECT); with technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime. Methods: Interictal SPECT scans and electroencephalography insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(EEG); examinations in 13 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(8 males, 5 females); children with partial epilepsy were performed twice before administering CBZ and between 4-12 months insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(8.00±2.23 months); after starting the therapy. Results: Visual assessment of interictal SPECT images showed stable perfusion abnormalities in 9 of 11 cases who had regions of hypoperfusion in the first scans. Before CBZ therapy, EEG correlated well with SPECT in 9/11 patients in localizing focal abnormality and the rate of correlation was 7/11 during the therapy. By quantitative evaluation, no significant change of rCBF in all cerebral cortical regions except right inferior frontal insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.03); was found after initiation of CBZ therapy. Repeated SPECT scans done in 6 healthy volunteers at intervals of 6 to 10 months insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(7.20±3.45 months); demonstrated no significant change of rCBF. Conclusion: Our results suggest that chronic CBZ therapy does not affect blood flow of the epileptogenic zone nor of the other parts of cerebral cortex. The absence of any effect due to chronic CBZ therapy may be related to the partial clinical improvement.
Keywords : Regional cerebral blood flow, carbamazepine, chronic antiepileptic drug therapy