Abdeldayem A Raafat
Mansoura University, Egypt
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Neurosci Neuropharm
Background & Aim: Seizures often occur in substance abusers. The present work
aimed to study the etiology of non-response to antiepileptic drugs by estimating their
serum levels and screening of drugs and substance abuse in patients with resistant
epilepsy.
Methods: This study was conducted in epilepsy outpatient clinic, Neurology
Department, Mansoura University Hospital. After exclusion, those with organic brain
lesion and who were not compliant to antiepileptic treatment, total of 924 patients
with intractable epilepsy were included. They were subjected to toxicology screen
for detection of drug and substances abuse by analysis of urine and blood samples;
measurements of the level of antiepileptic drugs in the blood (carbamazepine,
valproic acid, phenytoin). All assays were run on the system use of homogenous
immunoassay technique EMIT (enzyme multiplied immunoassay test) and confirmed
by GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrum).
Results: Confirmed positive results for drugs and substances abuse were detected
in 246 of 924 patients (26.62%) by GC/MS. Cannabis was the first abused drug
(29.27%), opiates was the second drug abused by patients (21.95%) followed by
alcohol (17.88%), benzodiazepine (16.26%), tricyclic antidepressants (8.54%)
and finally barbiturate constituted (6.1%). Only 17 patients showed serum level of
antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, valproate and phenytoin) within therapeutic
range, but 169 patients' levels were below therapeutic range and 60 patients with
levels above it.
Conclusions: Substance abuse may be the cause of resistant epilepsy as they are
epileptogenic by themselves or due to drug-drug interaction with the antiepileptic.
Recommendations: A screening test for drug and substances abuse performed if
drug abuse or withdrawal suspected in patients with resistant epilepsy even if patients
deny the use of them. To confirm the results of EMIT, further study is needed by
using GCMS (gas chromatography mass spectrum) as it is more sensitive and more
specific than EMIT system.
E-mail: mandourraafat@yahoo.com
