The Hematology Profiles of Adults Affiliated with Epilepsy after Receiving Valproic Acid Therapy

Abstract

AIM: Epilepsy is a socially significant neurological disease spread all over the world. Valproic acid (VPA) is one of the most used antiepileptic drug (AED) for treatment which has some side effects on hematology field. A nowadays update to the adult safety  information is needed. The current aim is to conduct a cross-sectional study and to describe the hematology profile of adults with epilepsy treated by VPA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data collection was done retrospectively and includes characteristics of the subjects such as age, gender,  electroencephalography (EEG) finding, duration of VPA treatment, type of treatment, and hematology profile. We report 50 subjects treated by VPA at least 1 year.

RESULTS: The mean age is 46, 4 years, 50% male and 50% female. About 92% were generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Seven percent were partial complex epilepsy. Twenty-four EEG results were abnormal (48%). We found 4 cases (7%) of thrombocytopenia at therapeutic dose and 8 cases (16%) of mild anemia.

DISCUSSION: Gender differences were eliminated by having the same number of participants of each gender. The EEG findings were almost equally normal and abnormal. Reported drug reactions due to VPA were thrombocytopenia and anemia. Thrombocytopenia requires discontinuation of VPA.