Excitability of the human epileptic cortex after chronic valproate: A reappraisal

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 1099; no. 1; pp. 160 - 166
• Main Authors: Cantello, Roberto, Civardi, Carlo, Varrasi, Claudia, Vicentini, Roberta, Cecchin, Michela, Boccagni, Cristina, Monaco, Francesco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 12.07.2006; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Anticonvulsants. Antiepileptics. Antiparkinson agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Cortex - drug effects; Cortical excitability; Drug Administration Schedule; Epilepsy - drug therapy; Epilepsy - pathology; Epilepsy - physiopathology; Female; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Human epilepsy; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - methods; Valproate; Valproic Acid - therapeutic use; cSP; Transcranial magnetic stimulation; IGE; VPA; Cortical excitability; FDI; Valproate; PE; NMDA; rMT; MEP; SICI; TMS; Human epilepsy; SICF; Human; Nervous system diseases; Cerebral cortex; Epilepsy; Central nervous system; Excitability; Anticonvulsant; Valproic acid; Cerebral disorder; Encephalon; Chronic; Central nervous system disease; Magnetic stimulus

We explored the action of chronic valproic acid (VPA) on the human epileptic cortex by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is an emerging biomarker for neurotropic drugs. We had 15 drug-naive patients with different epileptic syndromes. Interictally, we measured several TMS indexes...