Abstract

AIM: In childhood, benign rolandic epilepsy is one of the most seen partial seizures with good prognosis. The comparative studies which analyse the effectiveness of oxcarbazepine (OXC) in benign rolandic epilepsies were rarely. In this study, the clinical and adverse effects of sodium valproat (VPA) and OXC were compared. METHODS: A retrospcetive chart review identifed 32 patients (mean age: 8.06 ± 2.89 years; range: 4-14 years; 56.3% male; VPA group: 16 cases; OXC group: 16 cases) with benign rolandic epilepsy receiving valproat or oxcarbazepine monotherapy in at least on e year. In statistical analysis, Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests were used and p<0.05 was considered as signifıcant. RESULTS: In each therapy groups, 10 patients (67.5%) achieved seizure-free state (p>0.05). At the end of the first three months after the beginning of antiepileptic therapy, one patient in valproat group and two patients in oxcarbazepine group had insufficient reduction in seizure frequency, so they were switched to another antiepileptic agent. Three patients [18.7% (hyperphagia in 2, abdominal pain in 1)] in valproate group and 6 patients [37.5% (drowsiness in 3, headache in 2, skin rash in 1) in oxcarbazepine group reported adverse events (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings from this small series suggest that valproat or oxcarbazepine monotherapies can be effective and well tolerated in childhood.