Abstract | UNLABELLED:
Epilepsy currently affects 1.0%-1.5% of elderly population, and its prevalence and incidence rise as the number of old people increases worldwide. Antiepileptic drugs are the mainstay of treatment. Their phrarmacokinetics differ in old age and polypharmacotherapy often leads to drug interactions. Many of the affected have concomitant cardiovascular, metabolic, cerebrovascular, neurodegenerative or neoplastic diseases. Antiepileptic drugs add to the burden of medication and may produce neurotoxicity or cognitive impairment. PURPOSE: To give an overview of epidemiologic data and pharmacological management of epilepsy in the elderly. It is a common and important clinical problem. The increased awareness of this phenomenon has led to better understanding of the etiology of seizures and complexity of the pharmacokinetics in the elderly. METHOD: Data of 246 patients with epilepsy admitted to our Department during the year 2001 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-three (17.4%) patients were older than 65. Thirty-two (74.4%) patients, 20 male and 12 female, had a newly diagnosed epilepsy. The etiology of seizures included cerebrovascular diseases in 22 (68.8%), trauma in 4 (12.5%), primary tumors in 3 (9.4%) and metastases in 3 patients (9.4%). The initial antiepileptic drug (AED) was phenytoin in 15 (46.9%), carbamazepine in 14 (43.8%), carbamazepine plus phenytoin in 2 (6.3%), valproic acid in 1 (3.1%), diazepam in 3 (9.4%) and oxazepam in 2 (6.3%) patients. Later, during follow-up, lamotrigine was introduced in 4 (12.5%) patients as a monotherapy and in 3 (9.4%) patients as add-on therapy. Topiramate was introduced in 1 patient as monotherapy and add-on therapy each. Gabapentin was introduced in one patient as add-on therapy. CONCLUSION:
|
Authors | Snjezana Miskov, Marina Roje Bedeković, Ivan Mikula, Vida Demarin |
Journal | Acta medica Croatica : casopis Hravatske akademije medicinskih znanosti
(Acta Med Croatica)
Vol. 59
Issue 1
Pg. 63-7
( 2005)
ISSN: 1330-0164 [Print] Croatia |
Vernacular Title | Etiologija i lijecenje epilepsije osoba starije dobi. |
PMID | 15813358
(Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)
|
Chemical References |
|
Topics |
- Aged
- Anticonvulsants
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
- Epilepsy
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
|