Recording of Visual Evoked Potential in Patients Suffering from Epilepsy following Valproate Sodium Treatment

Article Information

Farabi Y*, Adib Moghaddam S, Naser M

Department of Ophthalmology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

*Corresponding Author: Farabi Y, Department of Ophthalmology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 19 January 2019; Accepted: 30 January 2019; Published: 04 February 2019

Citation: Farabi Y, Adib Moghaddam S, Naser M. Recording of Visual Evoked Potential in Patients Suffering from Epilepsy following Valproate Sodium Treatment. Journal of Opthalmology and Research 2 (2019): 006-009.

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Abstract

Aim: Valproate Sodium is a drug which can be used in patients suffering from epilepsy. It is reported that in some cases it may have toxic effect on visual system, mainly visual pathway. The aim of present study is to examine the visual pathway of these patients using visual evoked potentials.

Method: 27 epilepsy patients under sodium valproate treatment were selected for the purpose of present study. VEP, P100 peak was measured in patients’ groups i.e. case group. The result obtained were compared with the control consist of 27 normal population matched with case group.

Results: The two groups were matched demographically from age, sex and visual acuity point of view. The mean latency/ S.D of VEP, P100 peak were 1.8/7.23 and 95/4.37 msec and that of mean amplitude were 7 ± 1.83 and 8 ± 2.0 µv in case and control groups respectively. The difference between two groups was significant in case of latency of VEP, P100 peak whereas the difference between amplitude of VEP, P100 peak was not significant.

Conclusion: From the results of present work one can conclude that sodium valproate affects visual pathway of epilepsy patients which can be proved by visual evoked potential.

Keywords

Epilepsy, Sodium valproate, Visual pathway, Visual evoked potentials

Article Details

1. Introduction

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder the hallmark of which is recurrent unprovoked seizures. The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency. Although the symptoms of seizures may affect any part of the body, the electrical events that produce the symptoms occur in the brain. The location of the event, how it spreads, how much of the brain is affected, and how long it lasts all have profound effects. These factors determine the character of a seizures and its impact on the individual. Valproate sodium is a medication used to treat epilepsy. This drug can be given intravenously or by mouth. valproate sodium has common side effects including nausea, vomiting and dry mouth. Visual disturbances are common side-effect of this drug. Color perception can be taken as side effect of sodium valproate on visual system. Sodium valproate may affect central nervous system. Segura-Bruna, N and his colleagues reported that valproate induces hyperammonemic encephalopathy [1]. Visual pathway is a part of central nervous system that can be accordingly affected due to this drug. There are different techniques to examine the visual pathway. One of the efficient techniques is the electrophysiology of vision. It comprises visual evoked potential (VEP), electroretinography (ERG) and electrooculography (EOG). These techniques may be used to examine the pathological conditions of visual system. Tahmasebi's on 2014 compared the electroretinographical patterns in retinitis pigmentosa and chloroquine consuming patients to look for different site of retina which gets affected in these conditions [2]. Another work in this connection was done to examine the visual pathway disturbances of the migraines patients using proper stimulating technique, and they resulted that pattern reversal checker board VEP is an efficient technique for this purpose [3]. Shushtarian SM and his colleagues on 2014 worked on electroretinographical changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with abnormal visual evoked potentials and they concluded that in MS patient retina is also affected in addition to visual pathway disturbances [4]. Electrophysiological technique of vision can be used to examine the toxic effect of drugs on visual system. Naser M and her research team worked on toxic effect of Depakine on retina of epileptic patients using electroretinogram, and they concluded that ERG was normal in depakine consuming patient, hence retina of these patients is intact [5].

Finally, a case study was reported to examine the visual disturbances in a patient with Amiodarone treatment following refractive surgery. The authors used VEP, ERG and EOG techniques in the patient and find out that these tests are abnormal in the patient. The patient complains from sensing a ring around the light. The symptom recovered after amiodarone termination [6]. Base on above literature survey a research was planned out to check the toxicity of valproate sodium on visual system using visual evoked potential.

2. Material and Method

Twenty-seven patients suffering from epilepsy were selected for the purpose of present study. The age range of patients were from 15-25 years. They were having both the sexes i. e. male and female. The patients were under sodium valproate treatment for at least 1 year. The visual acuity of the patients was 10/10 or otherwise could be corrected by suitable lenses. The patients under gone visual evoked potential (VEP) examination. Mangoni Machiue capable of recording VEP, ERG and EOG was used for this purpose. Three electrodes i.e. active, reference and earth were attached to occipital, vertex and forehead respectively. An electrophysiological gel was used for better contact and conduction between the electrodes and skin. Latency (msec) and amplitude (µv) of VEP, P100 peak were measured for each patient. Means and standard deviations were calculated for both latencies and amplitudes obtained. The same procedure was repeated for 27 normal populations with no consumption of sodium valproate. The two groups i.e. patients and normal subject were matched demographically i.e. they were matched as for as sex, age and visual acuity is concerned. The results obtained in both the groups were compared together to check the probable differences in two group. SPSS version 24 was used for this purpose.

3. Result

Two groups of case and control were compared together as for as VEP, P100 peak parameters i.e. latency and amplitude were concerned. The mean latency/ S.D were 108/ 7.23 and 95/ 4.37 msec in case and control groups respectively. The difference between mean latencies of two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The mean amplitude ± S.D. were 7 ± 1.83 and 8 ± 2.01 (µv). The difference between two groups was not significant (P>0.05). Finally, the two group did not have any difference as for as demographical conditions were concerned.

4. Discussion

27 patients suffering from epilepsy and treated with sodium valproate (SV) for one year were examined by pattern reversal VEP (PRVEP). The result was compared with PRVEP obtained from 27 people with normal vision and no consumption of SV. Two groups were matched demographically as for as sex, age and visual acuity were concerned. The VEP obtained in two groups were significantly different in latency of VEP, P100 latency (P<0.05) whereas the difference in amplitude of the peak does not show statistical difference (P>0.05). It is a well-known fact that latency of VEP, P100 is a reflection of visual pathway [7], so the increase in latency of VEP, P100 peak is a reason for visual pathway disturbances in these patients. One of the late works in this connection was reported by Faught E and his colleague on 1984. They recorded PRVEP in epileptic patients treated with valproic acid. The result of their work was lengthening of VEP, P100 peak and decrease of amplitude of the peak [8]. This finding is similar to the result of present study. The only difference is the amplitude of VEP, P100 peak which in present work we could not find significant difference between case and control groups. Another research in this connection was done by Verroti A and his research team on 2000. They too examined 50 epileptic patients under SV treatment. The result was significant increase in VEP, P100 latencies [1]. Which once more support the result of present work. Finally, there are two references which are in contradiction with the result of present work. Yuksel A and his colleagues reported normal VEP in epileptic patient treated with sodium valproate [9] Which is not similar to the result of present work. Another work was done on 2013. Tumay Y and his team reported smaller delay in VEP, P100 peak of the epileptic patient consuming valporic acid in comparison to VEP, P100 peak of normal population [10].

5. Conclusion

From the result of present work one can conclude that the visual pathway of epileptic patients treated with sodium valproate gets affected after one year of sodium valproate treatment which can be proved by visual evoked potential examination.

References

  1. Segura-Bruna N, Rodriguez-Campello A, Puente V, et al. Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Acta Neurol Scand 114 (2006): 1-7.
  2. Tahmasebi S, Shushtarian SM. Comparison of Electroretinorgraphical Patterns in Retinitis Pigmentosa and Choloroquine Consuming Patients. Indian Journal of Applied Research 4 (2014): 50-51.
  3. Naser M, Shushtarian SM, Abdolhoseinpour H, et al. Selection of Suitable Visual Stimulator for Recording of Visual Evoked Potential in Photophobia Patients. Indian Journal of Applied Research 4 (2014): 413-415.
  4. Shushtarian SM, Farhad Adhami-Moghadam, Maryam Naser. Electroretinographic Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Abnormal Visual Evoked Potentials. Journal of Ophthalmic and Optometric Sciences 3 (2017): 34-38.
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  6. Naser M, Shushtarian SM, Shojaei A, et al. Visual Disturbance in a Patient with Amiodarone Treatment Following Refractive Surgery. Journal of Ophthalmic and Optometric Sciences 1 (2017): 39-42.
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  9. Yuksel A, Sarslan O, Devranoglu K, et al. Effect of valproate and carbamazepine on visual evoked potentials in epileptic children. Pediatrics International 37 (1995): 358-361.
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