All published articles of this journal are available on ScienceDirect.
Effect of Sodium Valproate Treatment on the Cardiac Index in New Cases with Status Epilepticus
Abstract
Background:
Sodium valproate is an antiepileptic drug primarily used to treat status epilepticus [SE]; however, its effect on cardiac function is unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of 6 months of sodium valproate treatment on the cardiac index in new cases with status epilepticus.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 30 cases with status epilepticus [18 boys and 12 girls] who were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Hazrat-e Rasool Hospital were enrolled. Information on basic demographic and clinical data of all children, such as age, weight, gender, blood pressures, and underlying diseases, was recorded. Echocardiography and electrocardiogram [ECG] were performed for all cases before and after the treatment.
Results:
There were no abnormalities in ECG parameters [including PR, QRS, and QT intervals] after 6 months of treatment with sodium valproate. No significant differences were found in echocardiographic parameters, including blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure [PAP], right ventricular [RV] size, diastolic dysfunction,], Tie index, end-diastolic volume [EDV], ejection fraction [EF], and TAPSE before and after study [p>0.05].
Conclusion:
Administration of sodium valproate over 6 months is not associated with a serious adverse effect on heart function in children with status epilepticus.
