Correlation between the number of antiepileptic drugs and the scores on measurements of executive functions in patients with epilepsy

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the significance of the number of applied antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in the disorder of executive function in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We included patients with TLE over 18 years. For the assessment of executive functions were used Wiskonsin card sorting test (WCST) with an estimate of the number of categories achieved, the number of perseverative response and the impossibility of maintaining a set and the Trail Making Test-Part B (TMT-B). The study included 32 patients with TLE with mean age 43.47 ± 10.74 years. Most patients (59.4%) were treated with two AEDs, 18.8% were on monotherapy, three AEDs were taking in 15.6% of patients, while two patients (6.25%) taking four AEDs. Most frequently used AEDs were valproate (50.00%) and lamotrigine (46.87%). Other AEDs were topiramate, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, levetiracetam, and clonazepam. We have found statistically significant correlation between the number of AEDs and number of perseverative response on the WCST. As the number of AEDs increased to the achievement of the measurements of executive function deteriorates. With the increasing number of AEDs in the treatment of patients with TLE increases the risk of developing disorder of executive function in these patients.