Individualized patient assessment in the treatment of epilepsy with sodium valproate.

This study records a comprehensive clinical protocol developed to assess seizure control and unwanted effects in 19 patients treated with sodium valproate (VPA). The assessment is based on six parameters individually ranked: seizure frequency, seizure duration, EEG comparisons, intellectual and cognitive function tests, sociological profile, and unwanted effects. Each parameter was ranked from one to five, and the mean was used to assess the overall patient state. Using this technique, this study assesses the therapeutic efficacy of VPA and the benefits of individualization of therapy as predicted by the use of pharmacokinetic parameters in a controlled trial.