Influence on ictal seizure semiology of rapid withdrawal of carbamazepine and valproate in monotherapy.

PURPOSE: To quantify changes in ictal seizure semiology during rapid withdrawal of carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproate (VPA) from a monoregimen in presurgical evaluation.

METHODS: Therapeutic intensive seizure analysis (TISA) with video-EEG monitoring was used in 33 patients with pharmacoresistant partial epilepsy undergoing complete withdrawal of CBZ (20 patients) or VPA (13 patients) from a monoregimen. Monitoring phases included a 3-day baseline phase, a 3-day rapid antiepileptic drug (AED) withdrawal phase, and another 3-day AED-free phase with AEDs in subtherapeutic levels. Seizure variables as complete processes and their various elements (ictal signs) were analyzed, including duration (seconds), intensity (on a scale of 0 to 3), frequency (number per 3 days), and total duration of seizures and ictal signs in 3 days (seconds). The localization of seizure patterns on ictal EEG recording (EEG seizure onset) and the first appearing clinical ictal phenomena (initial ictal signs) were recorded.

RESULTS: A total of 188 seizures in the CBZ group and 57 seizures in the VPA group were investigated. Compared with the baseline phase, the CBZ group showed increases in duration, frequency of seizures, various ictal signs, and secondarily generalized tonic and clonic signs during the following two phases. Significantly increased values of the VPA group were observed in seizure duration and frequency of hypermotoric phenomena during the AED-free phase. More patients in the CBZ group had secondarily generalized clonic signs during the AED-free phase. EEG seizure onset and initial ictal signs showed no obvious changes between study phases.

CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal of CBZ is followed more quickly by an increase of seizure frequency and severity than is the case for VPA withdrawal. Both CBZ and VPA withdrawal influences seizure propagation rather than the seizure-onset characteristics, which speaks in favor of its use in presurgical evaluation.