Valproate-caused encephalopathy
Thygesen, K.S.øl.; Wolf, P.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 167(40): 3793-3794
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1603-6824 PMID: 16221398 Document Number: 593929
Valproate is a widely used antiepileptic drug with rarely occurring serious side effects. We observed two cases of valproate-caused encephalopathy of insidious type. Ten months after initiation of valproate treatment, the two patients showed neurologic deficits such as rapid cognitive decline and extrapyramidal manifestations. However, the patients recovered some weeks after termination of the treatment. This side effect must be considered in patients showing signs of rapidly progressing severe dementia who are being treated with valproate.