Spectral analysis of the EEG in children during the introduction of antiepileptic therapy with valproic acid.

The EEGs of 16 newly diagnosed children with primary generalized epilepsy were examined before and during up to 3 years of antiepileptic therapy with valproic acid. Spectral analysis was performed and parameters of the relative power within the conventional frequency bands were compared with norm data. Before treatment no significant differences of the background activity between epileptic children and healthy controls were found. While treatment was able to reduce seizures and spike-wave activity, EEG parameters did not change systematically. There was no relation between valproate serum levels and parameters of the background activity.